SUZUKI SP400

396cc Petrol Class 2

#3459 of 5426 overall #471 of 680 SUZUKIs #2206 of 2787 other bikes

80.6%

first-time pass rate

9.1%

failed outright

17,693

median miles at test

506

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2014

The SP400's first-time pass rate has fallen 8.3 points since 2006, 81.6% to 73.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the SP400's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage SP400 passes first time 81.5% of the time; by 30k that's 80.9%.

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 SP400

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	64	43.2	1.5×
steering and suspension	23	15.5	1.0×
brakes	19	12.8	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	15	10.1	0.6×
tyres and wheels	9	6.1	0.6×
drive system	7	4.7	1.4×
reg plates and vin	5	3.4	0.7×
wheels	2	1.4	3.3×
Items Not Tested	2	1.4	4.3×
fuel and exhaust	2	1.4	0.5×

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 SP400 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 SP400.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1981 (90.6% pass). Weakest: 1982 (73.4%).

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 SP400 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI SP400 reliable?

The SUZUKI SP400 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.6% of its 506 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3459 of 5426 models.

What does a SP400 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 43% of all defects recorded against failed SP400 tests.

What is the best year of SP400 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1981-registered examples do best (90.6%) and 1982 worst (73.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a SP400 last?

The median SP400 shows 17,693 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 80.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.