SUZUKI SV400

400cc Petrol Class 2

#3028 of 5426 overall #387 of 680 SUZUKIs #1921 of 2787 other bikes

82.7%

first-time pass rate

9.9%

failed outright

22,194

median miles at test

202

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the SV400's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage SV400 passes first time 96.8% of the time; by 20k that's 79.7%.

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 SV400

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	12	32.4
steering and suspension	8	21.6
lighting and signalling	5	13.5
tyres and wheels	3	8.1
drive system	2	5.4
body and structure	2	5.4
suspension	2	5.4
wheels	1	2.7
Items Not Tested	1	2.7
fuel and exhaust	1	2.7

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the SV400 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 SV400.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1999 (85.9% pass). Weakest: 1999 (85.9%).

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.