Suzuki DL 250 AL8 MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki DL 250 AL8 motorcycles pass the MOT 91.3% of the time, measured across 276 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.62% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 4.4 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 91.3% 252 of 276

Fixed at the station 3.62% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 9,441 miles

Average age at test 6.44 years old

Engine 248cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Suzuki DL 250 AL8 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with excessively binding - it accounts for 42.9% of failed tests on this model.
Then check not working and less than 1.0 mm thick, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (4.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 9,441 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	94.38%		89
6-10 years	89.84%		187

Why the Suzuki DL 250 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	Excessively binding	42.9%	6
2	Not working	35.7%	5
3	Less than 1.0 mm thick	28.6%	4
4	Excessively loose	21.4%	3
5	Remains on when the brakes are released	21.4%	3
6	So loose it is likely to fail	14.3%	2
7	Too low	14.3%	2
8	Worn to excess	14.3%	2
9	Ball joint excessively worn	7.1%	1
10	Below minimum mark	7.1%	1

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	4.3%	12
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	2.9%	8
3	Excessively binding	2.5%	7
4	Excessively loose	2.2%	6
5	Worn to excess	1.8%	5
6	Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced	1.1%	3
7	Excessively deformed	0.7%	2
8	Is so short that the brake cannot be readily applied	0.7%	2
9	Nail in tyre	0.7%	2
10	Corroded and seriously weakened	0.4%	1

Suzuki DL 250 AL8 for sale

No Suzuki DL 250 AL8 in stock at the moment - 529 other Suzuki bikes are advertised.

Used Suzuki DL 250 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
Piaggio VESPA GTS · 240-300cc	4,305	92.15%	9,875
Honda CRF 220-250cc · 220-250cc	2,452	89.76%	7,549
Honda NSS 250-297cc · 250-297cc	1,397	90.34%	17,407
Honda CRF 300 LA-M · 286cc	1,297	88.43%	3,963
BMW G310 · 313cc	1,129	90.79%	7,243
Piaggio VESPA GTS 300 SUPER · 277cc	914	93.76%	12,292

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

Suzuki DL 250 AL8 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki DL 250 AL8?+

91.3% of Suzuki DL 250 AL8 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 276 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki DL 250 AL8?+

Excessively binding, which appears in 42.9% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Suzuki DL 250 AL8 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 6-10 years old the pass rate is 89.84%, against 94.38% 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.