BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ SUZUKI/VL800
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SUZUKI VL800

805cc Petrol Class 2
#1695 of 5428 overall #195 of 680 SUZUKIs #1025 of 2788 other bikes
87.7%
first-time pass rate
6.5%
failed outright
14,869
median miles at test
3,338
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+3.2pp
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 · 2008–2025

The VL800's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.3 points since 2008, 87.1% to 85.8%.

81%88%95%2008: 87.1% pass (31 tests)2009: 86.0% pass (50 tests)2010: 92.1% pass (63 tests)2011: 87.5% pass (80 tests)2012: 90.1% pass (71 tests)2013: 93.0% pass (86 tests)2014: 85.7% pass (91 tests)2015: 87.0% pass (92 tests)2016: 90.1% pass (91 tests)2017: 90.0% pass (80 tests)2018: 92.3% pass (65 tests)2019: 87.3% pass (63 tests)2020: 83.3% pass (54 tests)2021: 86.8% pass (544 tests)2022: 87.5% pass (536 tests)2023: 88.0% pass (518 tests)2024: 89.1% pass (386 tests)2025: 85.8% pass (409 tests)20082025

Pass rate by mileage

how the VL800's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VL800 passes first time 91.3% of the time; by 50k that's 79.5%.

77%85%94%0k: 91.3% pass (990 tests)10k: 87.4% pass (1,130 tests)20k: 86.0% pass (684 tests)30k: 84.4% pass (346 tests)40k: 85.0% pass (120 tests)50k: 79.5% pass (39 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 VL800

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors
118 31.8 1.3×
tyres
59 15.9 2.4×
brakes
50 13.5 0.3×
structure and attachments
38 10.2 1.6×
Identification of the vehicle
32 8.6 4.0×
tyres and wheels
26 7 0.3×
lighting and signalling
20 5.4 0.1×
steering
10 2.7 0.7×
audible warning (Horn)
9 2.4 1.5×
suspension
9 2.4 0.3×

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 VL800 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k 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 VL800.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the VL800

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: 2007 (91.0%). Lowest: 2010 (85.2%). Every VL800 year compared →

84%88%92%2001: 85.8% pass (219 tests)2002: 86.9% pass (475 tests)2003: 87.4% pass (571 tests)2004: 88.6% pass (341 tests)2005: 89.3% pass (317 tests)2006: 89.4% pass (425 tests)2007: 91.0% pass (255 tests)2008: 87.7% pass (309 tests)2010: 85.2% pass (54 tests)2011: 85.2% pass (81 tests)200120062011

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 VL800 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI VL800 reliable?

The SUZUKI VL800 is more reliable than average for its class: 87.7% of its 3,338 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1695 of 5428 models.

What does a VL800 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors: 32% of all defects recorded against failed VL800 tests.

What is the best year of VL800 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (91.0%) and 2011 worst (85.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VL800 last?

The median VL800 shows 14,869 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 79.5% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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