Suzuki SV 650 AL7 MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki SV 650 AL7 motorcycles pass the MOT 90.2% of the time, measured across 694 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.03% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 3.3 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 90.2% 626 of 694
Fixed at the station 4.03% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 18,331 miles
Average age at test 8.33 years old
Engine 645cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Suzuki SV 650 AL7 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

  • Start with too low - it accounts for 30% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check missing and not working, 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 (7.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 18,331 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 90.2% 694

Why the Suzuki SV 650 AL7 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 Too low 30% 12
2 Missing 20% 8
3 Not working 20% 8
4 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 17.5% 7
5 Not working on dipped beam 15% 6
6 Does not conform to the specified requirements 10% 4
7 Excessively loose 10% 4
8 Has a serious fluid leak 10% 4
9 Less than 1.0 mm thick 10% 4
10 Too high 10% 4

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 7.1% 49
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 6.3% 44
3 Less than 1.0 mm thick 3.3% 23
4 Excessively loose 2.9% 20
5 Worn to excess 2.9% 20
6 Excessively stiff or notchy 2.7% 19
7 Tread not clearly visible 1.4% 10
8 Component pin or bush excessively worn 1.3% 9
9 Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied 1.2% 8
10 Is so short that the brake cannot be readily applied 1.2% 8

Suzuki SV 650 AL7 for sale

No Suzuki SV 650 AL7 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 SV 650 AL7 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki SV 650 AL7?+
90.2% of Suzuki SV 650 AL7 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 694 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki SV 650 AL7?+
Too low, which appears in 30% 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.
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