BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ SUZUKI/X7
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SUZUKI X7

249cc Petrol Class 2
#2266 of 5428 overall #278 of 680 SUZUKIs #1408 of 2788 other bikes
85.8%
first-time pass rate
7.9%
failed outright
19,889
median miles at test
808
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+1.1pp
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 · 2006–2018

The X7's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.2 points since 2006, 92.1% to 87.9%.

74%85%96%2006: 92.1% pass (38 tests)2007: 78.0% pass (50 tests)2008: 91.8% pass (49 tests)2009: 85.7% pass (63 tests)2010: 88.7% pass (62 tests)2011: 83.8% pass (68 tests)2012: 81.3% pass (75 tests)2013: 82.3% pass (62 tests)2014: 83.9% pass (62 tests)2015: 89.3% pass (56 tests)2016: 87.0% pass (46 tests)2017: 80.8% pass (52 tests)2018: 87.9% pass (33 tests)20062018

Pass rate by mileage

how the X7's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage X7 passes first time 89.2% of the time; by 40k that's 75.0%.

72%82%93%0k: 89.2% pass (120 tests)10k: 84.0% pass (287 tests)20k: 89.7% pass (253 tests)30k: 82.2% pass (101 tests)40k: 75.0% pass (32 tests)0k20k40k

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 X7

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
steering and suspension
42 27.8 1.3×
lighting and signalling
38 25.2 0.9×
brakes
23 15.2 0.6×
body and structure
12 7.9 2.1×
drive system
10 6.6 1.7×
tyres and wheels
9 6 0.6×
reg plates and vin
6 4 0.9×
lamps and reflectors
4 2.6 0.2×
structure and attachments
4 2.6 0.4×
fuel and exhaust
3 2 0.5×

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 X7 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 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 X7.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the X7

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: 1982 (93.3%). Lowest: 1979 (80.9%). Every X7 year compared →

78%87%96%1978: 90.2% pass (163 tests)1979: 80.9% pass (314 tests)1980: 83.2% pass (143 tests)1981: 91.0% pass (89 tests)1982: 93.3% pass (75 tests)197819801982

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 X7 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI X7 reliable?

The SUZUKI X7 is about average for its class: 85.8% of its 808 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2266 of 5428 models.

What does a X7 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension: 28% of all defects recorded against failed X7 tests.

What is the best year of X7 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1982-registered examples do best (93.3%) and 1979 worst (80.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a X7 last?

The median X7 shows 19,889 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 75.0% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum: a live Suzuki X7 reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.