Suzuki GS500 MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki GS500 motorcycles pass the MOT 82.07% of the time, measured across 675 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.67% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 4.8 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 82.07% 554 of 675

Fixed at the station 6.67% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 26,107 miles

Average age at test 24.33 years old

Engine 487cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Suzuki GS500 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 35.5% of failed tests on this model.
Then check has a serious fluid leak and too high, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is has a serious fluid leak (6.7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 26,107 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	82.05%		674

Why the Suzuki GS500 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	35.5%	27
2	Has a serious fluid leak	30.3%	23
3	Too high	21.1%	16
4	Missing	14.5%	11
5	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	13.2%	10
6	Too low	11.8%	9
7	Less than 1.0 mm thick	9.2%	7
8	Excessively binding	7.9%	6
9	Has a major leak of exhaust gases	7.9%	6
10	Projected beam image obviously incorrect	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	Has a serious fluid leak	6.7%	45
2	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	4.9%	33
3	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	4.3%	29
4	Excessively loose	3.9%	26
5	Less than 1.0 mm thick	3.6%	24
6	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	3.4%	23
7	Excessively binding	3.3%	22
8	Worn to excess	2.8%	19
9	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	2.7%	18
10	Excessively tight	2.4%	16

Suzuki GS500 for sale

No Suzuki GS500 in stock at the moment - 528 other Suzuki bikes are advertised.

Used Suzuki GS500 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
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 GSXR600 · 599cc	3,831	81.83%	25,077
Honda CBR 471-650cc · 471-650cc	3,603	86.48%	17,329

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

Suzuki GS500 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki GS500?+

82.07% of Suzuki GS500 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 675 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki GS500?+

Not working, which appears in 35.5% 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.