Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Suzuki RG500: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which RG500 years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 88.6% average, from 2,276 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 1990 (94.1% of 68 tests). Lowest: 1987 (86.8% of 385).
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (88.6%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 416 | 87.7% | -0.9 pp |
| 1986 | 537 | 87.5% | -1.1 pp |
| 1987 | 385 | 86.8% | -1.8 pp |
| 1988 | 367 | 87.2% | -1.4 pp |
| 1989 | 361 | 92.2% | +3.6 pp |
| 1990 | 68 | 94.1% | +5.5 pp |
Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years. A first-time MOT pass is a roadworthiness check, not a full mechanical inspection.
Pass rate over time
Questions
- Which RG500 years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- none: no registration year of the Suzuki RG500 falls more than two points under the model's 88.6% overall pass rate.
- Which RG500 year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 1990, at 94.1% of 68 first tests (2005–2025). Years more than two points above the model average: 1989, 1990.
- How much does the RG500 pass rate vary by year?
- 7.3 percentage points between the highest (1990, 94.1%) and lowest (1987, 86.8%) cohorts with at least 50 tests. Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
Full report: Suzuki RG500 reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #1402 of 5428 models· other Suzuki models: GSXR600, GSF600, GSXR750, GSF1200, GSXR1000, SV650S