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

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SUZUKI INTRUDER

805cc Petrol Class 2
#2721 of 5428 overall #341 of 680 SUZUKIs #441 of 465 cruiser bikes
84.1%
first-time pass rate
9.0%
failed outright
16,497
median miles at test
3,753
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-0.1pp
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 INTRUDER's first-time pass rate has risen 5.1 points since 2005, 81.0% to 86.1%.

77%85%94%2005: 81.0% pass (42 tests)2006: 80.9% pass (215 tests)2007: 85.4% pass (212 tests)2008: 83.5% pass (212 tests)2009: 80.2% pass (217 tests)2010: 81.4% pass (231 tests)2011: 84.2% pass (228 tests)2012: 84.0% pass (225 tests)2013: 81.6% pass (239 tests)2014: 82.7% pass (254 tests)2015: 87.6% pass (226 tests)2016: 87.4% pass (222 tests)2017: 85.2% pass (196 tests)2018: 81.5% pass (146 tests)2019: 85.7% pass (140 tests)2020: 85.6% pass (118 tests)2021: 90.9% pass (154 tests)2022: 86.9% pass (145 tests)2023: 84.1% pass (132 tests)2024: 79.6% pass (98 tests)2025: 86.1% pass (101 tests)20052025

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage INTRUDER passes first time 89.5% of the time; by 50k that's 78.9%.

77%84%92%0k: 89.5% pass (976 tests)10k: 83.5% pass (1,276 tests)20k: 79.8% pass (812 tests)30k: 83.2% pass (422 tests)40k: 83.1% pass (160 tests)50k: 78.9% pass (38 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 INTRUDER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
190 28.8 0.8×
brakes
114 17.3 0.6×
steering and suspension
91 13.8 0.6×
tyres and wheels
61 9.3 0.7×
lamps and reflectors
61 9.3 0.7×
fuel and exhaust
51 7.7 1.6×
reg plates and vin
35 5.3 1.4×
tyres
24 3.6 0.8×
suspension
21 3.2 0.6×
body and structure
11 1.7 0.6×

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 INTRUDER beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 87.9% pass · 18.5k 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 INTRUDER.

Compare with any bike

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

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: 1998 (93.0%). Lowest: 1990 (68.5%). Every Intruder year compared →

64%81%98%1986: 76.1% pass (138 tests)1987: 80.4% pass (92 tests)1988: 77.8% pass (72 tests)1989: 88.2% pass (68 tests)1990: 68.5% pass (73 tests)1991: 81.4% pass (129 tests)1992: 84.7% pass (215 tests)1993: 85.2% pass (149 tests)1994: 83.4% pass (290 tests)1995: 83.0% pass (464 tests)1996: 80.7% pass (331 tests)1997: 82.0% pass (150 tests)1998: 93.0% pass (86 tests)1999: 83.7% pass (166 tests)2000: 84.1% pass (82 tests)2001: 84.0% pass (81 tests)2002: 88.6% pass (105 tests)2003: 87.0% pass (207 tests)2004: 90.1% pass (131 tests)2005: 80.3% pass (127 tests)2006: 90.6% pass (139 tests)2007: 84.7% pass (144 tests)2008: 89.5% pass (57 tests)2009: 92.2% pass (64 tests)2010: 90.5% pass (63 tests)2011: 92.6% pass (54 tests)198619992011

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 INTRUDER FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI INTRUDER reliable?

The SUZUKI INTRUDER is about average for its class: 84.1% of its 3,753 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2721 of 5428 models.

What does a INTRUDER fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 29% of all defects recorded against failed INTRUDER tests.

What is the best year of INTRUDER to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (93.0%) and 1990 worst (68.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a INTRUDER last?

The median INTRUDER shows 16,497 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 78.9% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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