SUZUKI VL 800 ZK4

805cc Petrol Class 2

#704 of 5426 overall #71 of 680 SUZUKIs #429 of 2787 other bikes

90.9%

first-time pass rate

5.2%

failed outright

14,674

median miles at test

463

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2014

The VL 800 ZK4's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2008 (90.9% → 90.0%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the VL 800 ZK4's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VL 800 ZK4 passes first time 93.5% of the time; by 20k that's 89.5%.

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 ZK4

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	9	23.1
tyres and wheels	8	20.5
brakes	7	17.9
lamps and reflectors	4	10.3
structure and attachments	3	7.7
tyres	3	7.7
reg plates and vin	2	5.1
fuel and exhaust	2	5.1
Identification of the vehicle	1	2.6

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 ZK4 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 ZK4.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (93.2% pass). Weakest: 2004 (90.2%).

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.