BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ SUZUKI/VL1500
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SUZUKI VL1500

1462cc Petrol Class 2
#2232 of 5428 overall #270 of 680 SUZUKIs #1382 of 2788 other bikes
85.9%
first-time pass rate
7.7%
failed outright
18,087
median miles at test
5,179
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+2.0pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

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

The VL1500's first-time pass rate has risen 8.3 points since 2005, 77.8% to 86.1%.

75%84%93%2005: 77.8% pass (36 tests)2006: 88.2% pass (287 tests)2007: 86.9% pass (275 tests)2008: 89.7% pass (272 tests)2009: 86.5% pass (288 tests)2010: 87.7% pass (285 tests)2011: 86.0% pass (301 tests)2012: 85.9% pass (277 tests)2013: 83.3% pass (305 tests)2014: 86.0% pass (286 tests)2015: 84.3% pass (281 tests)2016: 85.4% pass (294 tests)2017: 82.7% pass (272 tests)2018: 83.7% pass (209 tests)2019: 84.5% pass (213 tests)2020: 90.3% pass (175 tests)2021: 84.2% pass (259 tests)2022: 86.9% pass (267 tests)2023: 83.4% pass (241 tests)2024: 89.2% pass (176 tests)2025: 86.1% pass (180 tests)20052025

Pass rate by mileage

how the VL1500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VL1500 passes first time 89.2% of the time; by 50k that's 75.9%.

73%83%92%0k: 89.2% pass (1,152 tests)10k: 87.8% pass (1,729 tests)20k: 84.5% pass (1,113 tests)30k: 82.4% pass (608 tests)40k: 81.0% pass (310 tests)50k: 75.9% pass (133 tests)0k30k50k

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 VL1500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
188 25.9 0.6×
lighting and signalling
127 17.5 0.4×
tyres and wheels
102 14 0.8×
lamps and reflectors
93 12.8 0.8×
steering and suspension
54 7.4 0.3×
fuel and exhaust
52 7.2 1.2×
tyres
44 6.1 1.0×
reg plates and vin
29 4 0.8×
structure and attachments
20 2.8 0.5×
Identification of the vehicle
17 2.3 1.4×

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 VL1500 beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, SUZUKI GSF1200).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests Compare head-to-head →
BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 VL1500.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the VL1500

More SUZUKI models

other SUZUKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
SUZUKI GSXR600 76.7% pass · 149k tests
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests
SUZUKI GSXR750 79.8% pass · 99.2k tests
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests
SUZUKI GSXR1000 83.8% pass · 97.5k tests
SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

See all SUZUKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 2006 (90.0%). Lowest: 2000 (83.3%). Every VL1500 year compared →

82%87%91%1998: 86.1% pass (1,160 tests)1999: 85.3% pass (1,093 tests)2000: 83.3% pass (856 tests)2001: 85.5% pass (564 tests)2002: 84.1% pass (295 tests)2003: 87.7% pass (219 tests)2004: 89.2% pass (139 tests)2005: 89.0% pass (209 tests)2006: 90.0% pass (241 tests)2007: 86.5% pass (185 tests)199820032007

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 VL1500 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI VL1500 reliable?

The SUZUKI VL1500 is about average for its class: 85.9% of its 5,179 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2232 of 5428 models.

What does a VL1500 fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 26% of all defects recorded against failed VL1500 tests.

What is the best year of VL1500 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (90.0%) and 2000 worst (83.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VL1500 last?

The median VL1500 shows 18,087 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 75.9% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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