SUZUKI VL1500LC

1462cc Petrol Class 2

#1400 of 5426 overall #157 of 680 SUZUKIs #854 of 2787 other bikes

88.6%

first-time pass rate

5.2%

failed outright

13,654

median miles at test

385

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2017

The VL1500LC's first-time pass rate has fallen 12.2 points since 2008, 93.3% to 81.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VL1500LC's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VL1500LC passes first time 93.3% of the time; by 30k that's 85.3%.

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 VL1500LC

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	10	28.6
tyres and wheels	10	28.6
lighting and signalling	9	25.7
lamps and reflectors	2	5.7
steering and suspension	1	2.9
structure and attachments	1	2.9
tyres	1	2.9
fuel and exhaust	1	2.9

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 VL1500LC beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, SUZUKI GSF1200).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k 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 VL1500LC.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (92.2% pass). Weakest: 2001 (78.3%).

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.