SUZUKI GSX550

572cc Petrol Class 2

#4187 of 5426 overall #585 of 680 SUZUKIs #2610 of 2787 other bikes

76.0%

first-time pass rate

16.5%

failed outright

33,571

median miles at test

988

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2016

The GSX550's first-time pass rate has risen 3.2 points since 2005, 76.2% to 79.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GSX550's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GSX550 passes first time 70.8% of the time; by 50k that's 75.3%.

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 GSX550

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	105	26.6	1.6×
lighting and signalling	95	24.1	1.7×
steering and suspension	82	20.8	2.1×
tyres and wheels	39	9.9	1.6×
fuel and exhaust	21	5.3	2.7×
drive system	19	4.8	2.2×
lamps and reflectors	15	3.8	0.7×
body and structure	8	2	1.5×
suspension	5	1.3	0.4×
reg plates and vin	5	1.3	0.9×

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 GSX550 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

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 GSX550.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1984 (83.2% pass). Weakest: 1987 (66.1%).

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 GSX550 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GSX550 reliable?

The SUZUKI GSX550 is less reliable than average for its class: 76.0% of its 988 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4187 of 5426 models.

What does a GSX550 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 27% of all defects recorded against failed GSX550 tests.

What is the best year of GSX550 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1984-registered examples do best (83.2%) and 1987 worst (66.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GSX550 last?

The median GSX550 shows 33,571 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 75.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.