SUZUKI SFV 650 L1

645cc Petrol Class 2

#1506 of 5426 overall #168 of 680 SUZUKIs #915 of 2787 other bikes

88.3%

first-time pass rate

6.3%

failed outright

13,321

median miles at test

681

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2015–2025

The SFV 650 L1's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.0 points since 2015, 92.3% to 83.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the SFV 650 L1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage SFV 650 L1 passes first time 95.1% of the time; by 30k that's 66.7%.

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 SFV 650 L1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	12	16.4	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	12	16.4	0.8×
suspension	11	15.1	1.6×
tyres	9	12.3	1.7×
structure and attachments	9	12.3	1.1×
lighting and signalling	6	8.2	0.1×
reg plates and vin	5	6.8	1.0×
tyres and wheels	3	4.1	0.2×
steering	3	4.1	1.1×
steering and suspension	3	4.1	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 SFV 650 L1 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 HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 SFV 650 L1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (88.9% pass). Weakest: 2011 (87.3%).

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 SFV 650 L1 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI SFV 650 L1 reliable?

The SUZUKI SFV 650 L1 is more reliable than average for its class: 88.3% of its 681 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1506 of 5426 models.

What does a SFV 650 L1 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 16% of all defects recorded against failed SFV 650 L1 tests.

How many miles will a SFV 650 L1 last?

The median SFV 650 L1 shows 13,321 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 66.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.