BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ SUZUKI/GS850
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SUZUKI GS850

843cc Petrol Class 2
#3532 of 5428 overall #482 of 680 SUZUKIs #2247 of 2788 other bikes
80.2%
first-time pass rate
11.7%
failed outright
36,650
median miles at test
5,158
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-3.0pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The GS850's first-time pass rate has risen 9.2 points since 2005, 79.4% to 88.6%.

71%82%94%2005: 79.4% pass (102 tests)2006: 82.3% pass (469 tests)2007: 79.4% pass (437 tests)2008: 75.6% pass (397 tests)2009: 77.4% pass (368 tests)2010: 81.5% pass (373 tests)2011: 79.1% pass (345 tests)2012: 74.7% pass (316 tests)2013: 78.9% pass (313 tests)2014: 77.7% pass (309 tests)2015: 81.6% pass (293 tests)2016: 80.2% pass (263 tests)2017: 78.6% pass (248 tests)2018: 85.2% pass (182 tests)2019: 82.8% pass (186 tests)2020: 83.8% pass (136 tests)2021: 87.2% pass (149 tests)2022: 90.1% pass (111 tests)2023: 83.6% pass (73 tests)2024: 86.4% pass (44 tests)2025: 88.6% pass (44 tests)20052025

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS850's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GS850 passes first time 78.6% of the time; by 50k that's 79.2%.

77%83%88%0k: 78.6% pass (538 tests)10k: 86.8% pass (589 tests)20k: 81.9% pass (850 tests)30k: 78.7% pass (850 tests)40k: 78.9% pass (843 tests)50k: 79.2% pass (619 tests)0k30k50k

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a GS850

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
475 31.7 1.4×
brakes
468 31.3 1.4×
steering and suspension
228 15.2 1.1×
tyres and wheels
122 8.1 1.0×
lamps and reflectors
48 3.2 0.4×
fuel and exhaust
45 3 0.9×
body and structure
41 2.7 1.3×
reg plates and vin
36 2.4 1.1×
suspension
18 1.2 0.3×
driving controls
16 1.1 1.3×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the GS850 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the GS850.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the GS850

More SUZUKI models

other SUZUKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
SUZUKI GSXR600 76.7% pass · 149k tests
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests
SUZUKI GSXR750 79.8% pass · 99.2k tests
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests
SUZUKI GSXR1000 83.8% pass · 97.5k tests
SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

See all SUZUKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Highest pass rate: 1985 (85.7%). Lowest: 1983 (77.1%). Every GS850 year compared →

75%81%87%1971: 81.5% pass (65 tests)1979: 78.5% pass (1,142 tests)1980: 79.4% pass (1,161 tests)1981: 80.9% pass (697 tests)1982: 82.8% pass (436 tests)1983: 77.1% pass (214 tests)1985: 85.7% pass (168 tests)1986: 78.6% pass (308 tests)1987: 79.9% pass (422 tests)1988: 80.7% pass (332 tests)197119831988

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

SUZUKI GS850 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GS850 reliable?

The SUZUKI GS850 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.2% of its 5,158 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3532 of 5428 models.

What does a GS850 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 32% of all defects recorded against failed GS850 tests.

What is the best year of GS850 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1985-registered examples do best (85.7%) and 1983 worst (77.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GS850 last?

The median GS850 shows 36,650 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 79.2% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum: a live Suzuki GS850 reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.