SUZUKI SV 650 SY

645cc Petrol Class 2

#3399 of 5426 overall #459 of 680 SUZUKIs #2170 of 2787 other bikes

80.9%

first-time pass rate

13.5%

failed outright

20,571

median miles at test

1,716

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The SV 650 SY's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.6 points since 2005, 83.3% to 76.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage SV 650 SY passes first time 87.6% of the time; by 40k that's 74.8%.

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 SV 650 SY

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	151	33.9	1.6×
lighting and signalling	87	19.6	0.9×
tyres and wheels	54	12.1	1.4×
steering and suspension	45	10.1	0.8×
lamps and reflectors	25	5.6	0.6×
drive system	25	5.6	1.8×
fuel and exhaust	24	5.4	1.6×
reg plates and vin	13	2.9	1.3×
body and structure	11	2.5	1.3×
suspension	10	2.2	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 SV 650 SY beats 2 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 SV 650 SY.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1999 (81.4% pass). Weakest: 2001 (74.2%).

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 SV 650 SY FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI SV 650 SY reliable?

The SUZUKI SV 650 SY is less reliable than average for its class: 80.9% of its 1,716 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3399 of 5426 models.

What does a SV 650 SY fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 34% of all defects recorded against failed SV 650 SY tests.

What is the best year of SV 650 SY to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1999-registered examples do best (81.4%) and 2001 worst (74.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a SV 650 SY last?

The median SV 650 SY shows 20,571 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 74.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.