SUZUKI VS800

805cc Petrol Class 2

#3028 of 5426 overall #387 of 680 SUZUKIs #1921 of 2787 other bikes

82.7%

first-time pass rate

9.4%

failed outright

17,838

median miles at test

2,436

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The VS800's first-time pass rate has fallen 11.7 points since 2005, 88.6% to 76.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VS800's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VS800 passes first time 87.0% of the time; by 40k that's 79.7%.

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 VS800

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	125	26	0.8×
brakes	90	18.7	0.7×
steering and suspension	70	14.6	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	55	11.4	0.9×
tyres and wheels	51	10.6	1.0×
fuel and exhaust	32	6.7	1.4×
reg plates and vin	22	4.6	1.2×
suspension	17	3.5	0.8×
tyres	10	2.1	0.6×
Identification of the vehicle	9	1.9	1.6×

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 VS800 beats 3 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 VS800.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2005 (85.7% pass). Weakest: 1994 (78.8%).

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 VS800 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI VS800 reliable?

The SUZUKI VS800 is less reliable than average for its class: 82.7% of its 2,436 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3028 of 5426 models.

What does a VS800 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 26% of all defects recorded against failed VS800 tests.

What is the best year of VS800 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2005-registered examples do best (85.7%) and 1994 worst (78.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VS800 last?

The median VS800 shows 17,838 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 79.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.