SUZUKI VL 800 L1

805cc Petrol Class 2

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

89.6%

first-time pass rate

3.9%

failed outright

8,680

median miles at test

337

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2015–2022

The VL 800 L1's first-time pass rate has risen 9.2 points since 2015, 87.5% to 96.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VL 800 L1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VL 800 L1 passes first time 92.3% of the time; by 20k that's 75.0%.

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 L1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
tyres	6	37.5
brakes	4	25
lamps and reflectors	2	12.5
tyres and wheels	2	12.5
driving controls	1	6.2
structure and attachments	1	6.2

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 VL 800 L1 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 L1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (88.5% pass). Weakest: 2012 (88.3%).

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.