Suzuki GSX 650 FK8 MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki GSX 650 FK8 motorcycles pass the MOT 83.71% of the time, measured across 350 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 3.2 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 83.71% 293 of 350
Fixed at the station 6% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 25,922 miles
Average age at test 16.74 years old
Engine 647cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 Suzuki GSX 650 FK8 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 41.7% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check has a serious fluid leak and missing, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (8.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 25,922 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
11-15 years 81.82% 44
16+ years 83.99% 306

Why the Suzuki GSX 650 FK8 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 41.7% 15
2 Has a serious fluid leak 27.8% 10
3 Missing 25% 9
4 Insecure 22.2% 8
5 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 13.9% 5
6 Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 13.9% 5
7 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 8.3% 3
8 Grip insecure to handlebar 8.3% 3
9 Too low 8.3% 3
10 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 8.3% 3

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 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 8.3% 29
2 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 6.9% 24
3 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 5.1% 18
4 Less than 1.0 mm thick 4.6% 16
5 Excessively binding 2% 7
6 Excessively loose 2% 7
7 Has a serious fluid leak 1.7% 6
8 Has excessive play 1.7% 6
9 Has a major leak of exhaust gases 1.4% 5
10 Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced 0.9% 3

Suzuki GSX 650 FK8 for sale

No Suzuki GSX 650 FK8 in stock at the moment - 529 other Suzuki bikes are advertised.

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 GSX 650 FK8 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki GSX 650 FK8?+
83.71% of Suzuki GSX 650 FK8 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 350 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki GSX 650 FK8?+
Not working, which appears in 41.7% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Suzuki GSX 650 FK8 get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 16+ years old the pass rate is 83.99%, against 81.82% for examples 11-15 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.
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