SUZUKI RG500

498cc Petrol Class 2

#1400 of 5426 overall #157 of 680 SUZUKIs #854 of 2787 other bikes

88.6%

first-time pass rate

4.7%

failed outright

17,970

median miles at test

2,276

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The RG500's first-time pass rate has risen 6.4 points since 2006, 84.2% to 90.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the RG500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage RG500 passes first time 91.0% of the time; by 40k that's 97.1%.

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 RG500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	110	47.6	0.6×
brakes	42	18.2	0.4×
steering and suspension	29	12.6	0.3×
lamps and reflectors	16	6.9	0.3×
tyres and wheels	14	6.1	0.3×
drive system	5	2.2	0.3×
reg plates and vin	5	2.2	0.3×
steering	4	1.7	0.4×
body and structure	3	1.3	0.3×
fuel and exhaust	3	1.3	0.2×

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 RG500 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 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 RG500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1990 (94.1% pass). Weakest: 1987 (86.8%).

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 RG500 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI RG500 reliable?

The SUZUKI RG500 is more reliable than average for its class: 88.6% of its 2,276 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1400 of 5426 models.

What does a RG500 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 48% of all defects recorded against failed RG500 tests.

What is the best year of RG500 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1990-registered examples do best (94.1%) and 1987 worst (86.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a RG500 last?

The median RG500 shows 17,970 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 97.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.