BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ SUZUKI/SV 650 X AL8
Model report · 2005–2025

SUZUKI SV 650 X AL8

645cc Petrol Class 2
89.3%
first-time pass rate
3.5%
failed outright
6,756
median miles at test
776
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The SV 650 X AL8's first-time pass rate has risen 1.4 points since 2021, 88.7% to 90.1%.

86%89%92%2021: 88.7% pass (133 tests)2022: 87.1% pass (186 tests)2023: 91.2% pass (182 tests)2024: 90.0% pass (130 tests)2025: 90.1% pass (141 tests)20212025

Pass rate by mileage

how the SV 650 X AL8's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage SV 650 X AL8 passes first time 91.0% of the time; by 20k that's 82.1%.

80%87%93%0k: 91.0% pass (533 tests)10k: 87.3% pass (189 tests)20k: 82.1% pass (39 tests)0k10k20k

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 X AL8

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors
17 32.7 1.1×
structure and attachments
11 21.2 1.7×
brakes
9 17.3 0.2×
steering
8 15.4 2.5×
tyres
5 9.6 0.9×
Identification of the vehicle
1 1.9 0.6×
suspension
1 1.9 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 SV 650 X AL8 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

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 X AL8.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2019 (90.9% pass). Weakest: 2018 (88.8%).

88%90%92%2018: 88.8% pass (607 tests)2019: 90.9% pass (164 tests)20182019

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 X AL8 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI SV 650 X AL8 reliable?

The SUZUKI SV 650 X AL8 is more reliable than average for its class: 89.3% of its 776 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1180 of 5426 models.

What does a SV 650 X AL8 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 33% of all defects recorded against failed SV 650 X AL8 tests.

How many miles will a SV 650 X AL8 last?

The median SV 650 X AL8 shows 6,756 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 82.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.