SUZUKI VL 800 L0

805cc Petrol Class 2

#1075 of 5426 overall #109 of 680 SUZUKIs #661 of 2787 other bikes

89.6%

first-time pass rate

4.1%

failed outright

8,640

median miles at test

557

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2024

The VL 800 L0's first-time pass rate has risen 1.1 points since 2013, 88.9% to 90.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VL 800 L0's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VL 800 L0 passes first time 90.9% of the time; by 20k that's 73.5%.

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 VL 800 L0

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	9	25	0.7×
tyres	7	19.4	1.8×
brakes	6	16.7	0.2×
tyres and wheels	6	16.7	0.5×
reg plates and vin	3	8.3	0.3×
Identification of the vehicle	2	5.6	1.6×
steering	1	2.8	0.4×
structure and attachments	1	2.8	0.3×
fuel and exhaust	1	2.8	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 VL 800 L0 beats 4 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 TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k 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 VL 800 L0.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (89.8% pass). Weakest: 2010 (89.8%).

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 VL 800 L0 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI VL 800 L0 reliable?

The SUZUKI VL 800 L0 is more reliable than average for its class: 89.6% of its 557 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1075 of 5426 models.

What does a VL 800 L0 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 25% of all defects recorded against failed VL 800 L0 tests.

How many miles will a VL 800 L0 last?

The median VL 800 L0 shows 8,640 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 73.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.