SUZUKI VL800 K2

805cc Petrol Class 2

#1269 of 5426 overall #142 of 680 SUZUKIs #775 of 2787 other bikes

89.0%

first-time pass rate

5.8%

failed outright

10,767

median miles at test

2,878

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2020

The VL800 K2's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.5 points since 2006, 91.3% to 85.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VL800 K2's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VL800 K2 passes first time 92.0% of the time; by 30k that's 79.6%.

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 K2

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
tyres and wheels	73	25.3	1.1×
lighting and signalling	67	23.3	0.4×
brakes	37	12.8	0.2×
reg plates and vin	35	12.2	1.5×
fuel and exhaust	24	8.3	1.1×
lamps and reflectors	18	6.2	0.2×
Identification of the vehicle	13	4.5	2.0×
structure and attachments	8	2.8	0.4×
tyres	7	2.4	0.3×
steering and suspension	6	2.1	0.1×

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 K2 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 VL800 K2.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (89.5% pass). Weakest: 2002 (84.5%).

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 K2 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI VL800 K2 reliable?

The SUZUKI VL800 K2 is more reliable than average for its class: 89.0% of its 2,878 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1269 of 5426 models.

What does a VL800 K2 fail its MOT on most?

tyres and wheels — 25% of all defects recorded against failed VL800 K2 tests.

How many miles will a VL800 K2 last?

The median VL800 K2 shows 10,767 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 79.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.