Suzuki DL 1000 AL8 MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki DL 1000 AL8 motorcycles pass the MOT 92.98% of the time, measured across 584 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.42% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 6.1 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 92.98% 543 of 584

Fixed at the station 3.42% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 16,908 miles

Average age at test 7.06 years old

Engine 1,037cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Suzuki DL 1000 AL8 adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

Start with does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) - it accounts for 23.8% of failed tests on this model.
Then check inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps and too high, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 16,908 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test	Pass rate		Tests
3-5 years	91.43%		35
6-10 years	93.08%		549

Why the Suzuki DL 1000 AL8 fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

#	Item	Of failures	Tests
1	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	23.8%	5
2	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	23.8%	5
3	Too high	23.8%	5
4	Not working	19%	4
5	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	19%	4
6	Excessively loose	14.3%	3
7	Not working on dipped beam	14.3%	3
8	Excessively stiff or notchy	9.5%	2
9	Fluid level below minimum level	9.5%	2
10	Has a serious fluid leak	9.5%	2

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

#	Item	Of all tests	Tests
1	Less than 1.0 mm thick	6%	35
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5%	29
3	Excessively loose	3.3%	19
4	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	2.9%	17
5	Excessively stiff or notchy	1.9%	11
6	Pin or bush excessively worn	1.7%	10
7	Tread not clearly visible	1.7%	10
8	Has a serious fluid leak	1.4%	8
9	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.4%	8
10	Worn to excess	1.4%	8

Suzuki DL 1000 AL8 for sale

No Suzuki DL 1000 AL8 in stock at the moment - 529 other Suzuki bikes are advertised.

Used Suzuki DL 1000 AL8 Used Suzuki All Suzuki Suzuki MOT statistics

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
Triumph TIGER · 969cc	16,144	91.27%	22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc	12,456	90.8%	12,824
BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc	9,796	91.92%	40,594
BMW R1200 · 1,170cc	9,521	94.43%	28,830
BMW S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
BMW R1250 · 1,254cc	6,764	96.17%	17,373

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Suzuki DL 1000 AL8 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki DL 1000 AL8?+

92.98% of Suzuki DL 1000 AL8 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 584 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki DL 1000 AL8?+

Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s), which appears in 23.8% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Suzuki DL 1000 AL8 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 6-10 years old the pass rate is 93.08%, against 91.43% for examples 3-5 years old.

Where does this data come from?+

From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.

Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+

Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.