Suzuki DR-Z400S MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki DR-Z400S motorcycles pass the MOT 83.61% of the time, measured across 787 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.73% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 3.3 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 83.61% 658 of 787

Fixed at the station 6.73% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 12,889 miles

Average age at test 22.32 years old

Engine 398cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Suzuki DR-Z400S adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with missing - it accounts for 38.2% of failed tests on this model.
Then check not working and flashing more than 120 times a minute, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (5.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 12,889 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
16+ years	83.42%		778

Why the Suzuki DR-Z400S 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	Missing	38.2%	29
2	Not working	38.2%	29
3	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	18.4%	14
4	Has excessive play	14.5%	11
5	Does not conform to the specified requirements	13.2%	10
6	Remains on when the brakes are released	11.8%	9
7	Excessively binding	10.5%	8
8	Insecure	9.2%	7
9	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	7.9%	6
10	Obviously incorrectly positioned	7.9%	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	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	5.6%	44
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	3.6%	28
3	Excessively binding	3.3%	26
4	Worn to excess	3.2%	25
5	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.8%	22
6	Has excessive play	2.4%	19
7	Chain guard missing	2.3%	18
8	Inscription illegible	2.2%	17
9	Significantly and obviously worn	1.7%	13
10	Pin or bush excessively worn	1.5%	12

Suzuki DR-Z400S for sale

No Suzuki DR-Z400S in stock at the moment - 529 other Suzuki bikes are advertised.

Used Suzuki DR-Z400S 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
Royal Enfield HIMALAYAN · 411cc	2,371	88.49%	8,163
Royal Enfield METEOR 350 · 349cc	2,133	93.95%	4,543
Honda NSS 250-297cc · 250-297cc	1,397	90.34%	17,407
Honda CB500 · 497cc	1,300	84.08%	34,941
Honda CRF 300 LA-M · 286cc	1,297	88.43%	3,963

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

Suzuki DR-Z400S MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki DR-Z400S?+

83.61% of Suzuki DR-Z400S MOT tests end in a pass, based on 787 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki DR-Z400S?+

Missing, which appears in 38.2% of failed tests on this model.

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.