SUZUKI SV650

645cc Petrol Class 2

#3420 of 5426 overall #465 of 680 SUZUKIs #2183 of 2787 other bikes

80.8%

first-time pass rate

11.4%

failed outright

18,560

median miles at test

60.1k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The SV650's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.1 points since 2005, 87.4% to 81.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the SV650's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage SV650 passes first time 87.5% of the time; by 50k that's 73.4%.

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 SV650

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	3,582	26.2	1.0×
lighting and signalling	2,597	19	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	2,309	16.9	1.6×
tyres and wheels	1,058	7.7	0.8×
steering and suspension	1,004	7.3	0.5×
structure and attachments	780	5.7	1.5×
suspension	740	5.4	1.4×
tyres	694	5.1	1.5×
drive system	554	4.1	1.0×
steering	358	2.6	1.2×

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 SV650 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 SV650.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (88.8% pass). Weakest: 1998 (78.4%).

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 SV650 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI SV650 reliable?

The SUZUKI SV650 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.8% of its 60,060 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3420 of 5426 models.

What does a SV650 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed SV650 tests.

What is the best year of SV650 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (88.8%) and 1998 worst (78.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a SV650 last?

The median SV650 shows 18,560 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 73.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.