SUZUKI GT500

493cc Petrol Class 2

#1722 of 5426 overall #199 of 680 SUZUKIs #1043 of 2787 other bikes

87.6%

first-time pass rate

6.4%

failed outright

20,636

median miles at test

1,190

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2018

The GT500's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.0 points since 2006, 89.0% to 86.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GT500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GT500 passes first time 91.7% of the time; by 40k that's 91.4%.

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 GT500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	57	30.6	0.6×
steering and suspension	34	18.3	0.7×
brakes	32	17.2	0.5×
tyres and wheels	25	13.4	1.0×
fuel and exhaust	11	5.9	1.1×
drive system	8	4.3	0.9×
body and structure	6	3.2	0.9×
reg plates and vin	6	3.2	0.6×
driving controls	4	2.2	1.4×
lamps and reflectors	3	1.6	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 GT500 beats 4 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 YAMAHA FZ6 85.2% pass · 67.1k 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 GT500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1977 (90.3% pass). Weakest: 1971 (75.0%).

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 GT500 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI GT500 reliable?

The SUZUKI GT500 is more reliable than average for its class: 87.6% of its 1,190 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1722 of 5426 models.

What does a GT500 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 31% of all defects recorded against failed GT500 tests.

What is the best year of GT500 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1977-registered examples do best (90.3%) and 1971 worst (75.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GT500 last?

The median GT500 shows 20,636 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 91.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.