Suzuki DL650 MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki DL650 motorcycles pass the MOT 84.76% of the time, measured across 840 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.88% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 2.1 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 84.76% 712 of 840

Fixed at the station 4.88% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 33,878 miles

Average age at test 16.87 years old

Engine 645cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 1 Suzuki DL650 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with not working - it accounts for 31% of failed tests on this model.
Then check has a serious fluid leak and excessively binding, the next two most common reasons.
Age matters here: 97.06% of 6-10 year old examples pass, against 82.61% at 16+ years - a gap of 14.5 points.
The most common advisory is has a serious fluid leak (6.4% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 33,878 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
6-10 years	97.06%	34
11-15 years	86.87%	297
16+ years	82.61%	506

Why the Suzuki DL650 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	Not working	31%	27
2	Has a serious fluid leak	26.4%	23
3	Excessively binding	18.4%	16
4	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	16.1%	14
5	Less than 1.0 mm thick	14.9%	13
6	Contaminated	11.5%	10
7	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	8%	7
8	Excessively stiff or notchy	6.9%	6
9	Has excessive play	6.9%	6
10	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	6.9%	6

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	Has a serious fluid leak	6.4%	54
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5.8%	49
3	Less than 1.0 mm thick	4.9%	41
4	Excessively stiff or notchy	3.1%	26
5	Significantly and obviously worn	2.7%	23
6	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	2.5%	21
7	Excessively loose	2.4%	20
8	Has excessive play	2.3%	19
9	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	2.1%	18
10	Excessively binding	1.9%	16

Suzuki DL650 for sale

1 Suzuki DL650 adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 528 Suzuki in total.

Used Suzuki DL650 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
Honda CB 397-750cc · 397-750cc	5,400	89.76%	19,444
Honda NC · 741cc	5,311	89.53%	22,765
Suzuki GSF600 · 600cc	4,890	80%	29,308
Honda CBR600F · 599cc	4,710	85.56%	30,651
Kawasaki ZX-6R · 599-636cc	4,510	81.62%	26,019
Suzuki SV650 · 646cc	3,834	80.99%	27,644

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

Suzuki DL650 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki DL650?+

84.76% of Suzuki DL650 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 840 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki DL650?+

Not working, which appears in 31% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Suzuki DL650 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 82.61%, against 97.06% for examples 6-10 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.