BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Ajs 18/vs Suzuki SV650S
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Ajs 18 vs Suzuki SV650S

The Ajs 18 passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki SV650S: 94.9% vs 80.6%, a 14.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Ajs 18 Suzuki SV650S
First-time pass rate 94.9% 80.6%
Outright fail rate 1.9% 11.9%
Engine size 500cc 645cc
Rank among all models #82 of 5428 #3459 of 5428
Median miles at test 15,812 16,958
MOT tests analysed 315 84,632
Most common failure lighting and signalling lighting and signalling

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested
Test year Ajs 18 Suzuki SV650S
2006 100.0% 85.9%
2007 94.9% 85.5%
2008 94.4% 82.8%
2009 100.0% 80.5%
2010 94.1% 80.3%
2011 92.1% 80.0%
2012 93.5% 78.8%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test
Mileage Ajs 18 Suzuki SV650S
0k-10k miles 92.7% 88.2%
10k-20k miles 97.8% 81.6%
30k-40k miles 95.2% 73.6%
50k-60k miles 100.0% 70.6%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.