BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Suzuki AN400/vs Suzuki DR-Z400S
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Suzuki AN400 vs Suzuki DR-Z400S

The Suzuki AN400 passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki DR-Z400S: 86.2% vs 80.4%, a 5.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Suzuki AN400 Suzuki DR-Z400S
First-time pass rate 86.2% 80.4%
Outright fail rate 9.8% 11.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +1.3 pts -6.5 pts
Engine size 385cc 398cc
Rank among all models #2148 of 5428 #3493 of 5428
Median miles at test 15,861 6,940
MOT tests analysed 27,056 26,773
Most common failure brakes 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.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Suzuki AN400 Suzuki DR-Z400S
Lights & signalling 2.6% 6.1%
Brakes 4.4% 3.5%
Tyres & wheels 3.2% 2.6%
Steering & suspension 2.3% 3.2%
Fuel & exhaust 0.4% 0.6%
Structure & body 0.3% 0.7%
Drive system 0% 0.8%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested
Test year Suzuki AN400 Suzuki DR-Z400S
2018 85.7% 79.5%
2019 84.4% 82.2%
2020 84.5% 80.0%
2021 85.1% 83.4%
2022 83.0% 81.8%
2023 83.0% 84.9%
2024 83.1% 84.3%
2025 86.9% 83.7%

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 Suzuki AN400 Suzuki DR-Z400S
0k-10k miles 91.7% 81.7%
10k-20k miles 86.7% 78.4%
20k-30k miles 82.7% 79.2%
30k-40k miles 81.0% 76.4%
40k-50k miles 79.7% 75.2%
50k-60k miles 75.7% 82.9%

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

Suzuki AN400 vs Suzuki DR-Z400S FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Suzuki AN400 or the Suzuki DR-Z400S?

The Suzuki AN400 passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki DR-Z400S: 86.2% vs 80.4%, a 5.8-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Suzuki AN400 still comes out ahead: +1.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Suzuki AN400, -6.5 for the Suzuki DR-Z400S. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Suzuki AN400 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 4.4% of Suzuki AN400 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (3.2%).

What does the Suzuki DR-Z400S fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.1% of Suzuki DR-Z400S MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (3.5%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Suzuki AN400 or the Suzuki DR-Z400S?

At 50k-60k miles the Suzuki DR-Z400S passes first time more often: 75.7% for the Suzuki AN400 vs 82.9% for the Suzuki DR-Z400S.

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