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

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SUZUKI GT

543cc Petrol Class 2
#854 of 5428 overall #86 of 680 SUZUKIs #519 of 2788 other bikes
90.3%
first-time pass rate
5.0%
failed outright
18,253
median miles at test
1,174
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+4.7pp
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 · 2006–2021

The GT's first-time pass rate has risen 10.7 points since 2006, 86.3% to 97.0%.

75%87%100%2006: 86.3% pass (51 tests)2007: 79.2% pass (48 tests)2008: 93.3% pass (45 tests)2009: 86.5% pass (52 tests)2010: 89.5% pass (57 tests)2011: 88.1% pass (59 tests)2012: 87.3% pass (63 tests)2013: 87.8% pass (74 tests)2014: 90.5% pass (84 tests)2015: 92.9% pass (85 tests)2016: 94.6% pass (92 tests)2017: 90.5% pass (168 tests)2018: 91.5% pass (106 tests)2019: 89.6% pass (48 tests)2020: 97.3% pass (37 tests)2021: 97.0% pass (33 tests)20062021

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage GT passes first time 92.0% of the time; by 40k that's 88.5%.

88%90%93%0k: 92.0% pass (312 tests)10k: 89.3% pass (347 tests)20k: 88.9% pass (306 tests)30k: 90.4% pass (104 tests)40k: 88.5% pass (52 tests)0k20k40k

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 GT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
36 28.1 0.5×
brakes
26 20.3 0.4×
steering and suspension
24 18.8 0.5×
tyres and wheels
15 11.7 0.5×
body and structure
9 7 1.4×
fuel and exhaust
6 4.7 0.6×
drive system
6 4.7 0.5×
wheels
3 2.3 2.8×
structure and attachments
2 1.6 0.2×
tyres
1 0.8 0.1×

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 GT beats 4 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 →
SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k 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 GT.

Compare with any bike

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

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: 1972 (94.7%). Lowest: 1976 (89.2%). Every GT year compared →

88%92%96%1971: 91.4% pass (70 tests)1972: 94.7% pass (76 tests)1973: 93.1% pass (58 tests)1974: 89.9% pass (119 tests)1975: 91.0% pass (167 tests)1976: 89.2% pass (279 tests)1977: 89.4% pass (227 tests)197119741977

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 GT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GT reliable?

The SUZUKI GT is more reliable than average for its class: 90.3% of its 1,174 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #854 of 5428 models.

What does a GT fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 28% of all defects recorded against failed GT tests.

What is the best year of GT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1972-registered examples do best (94.7%) and 1976 worst (89.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GT last?

The median GT shows 18,253 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 88.5% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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