Suzuki SV 650 AL8 MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki SV 650 AL8 motorcycles pass the MOT 87.34% of the time, measured across 237 tests in the DVSA record. A further 8.86% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 0.5 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 87.34% 207 of 237

Fixed at the station 8.86% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 15,982 miles

Average age at test 6.93 years old

Engine 645cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Suzuki SV 650 AL8 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 100% of failed tests on this model.
Then check less than 1.0 mm thick and missing, 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 (7.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 15,982 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	87.88%		231

Why the Suzuki SV 650 AL8 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	100%	12
2	Less than 1.0 mm thick	44.4%	4
3	Missing	33.3%	3
4	Not working	33.3%	3
5	Excessively loose	22.2%	2
6	Below minimum mark	11.1%	1
7	Defective or damaged by more than 50% of the reflecting surface	11.1%	1
8	Does not conform to the specified requirements	11.1%	1
9	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	11.1%	1
10	Excessively stiff or notchy	11.1%	1

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	7.2%	17
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	3.8%	9
3	Less than 1.0 mm thick	3.4%	8
4	Excessively loose	2.5%	6
5	Excessively stiff or notchy	2.1%	5
6	Worn to excess	1.7%	4
7	Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied	1.3%	3
8	Is so short that the brake cannot be readily applied	1.3%	3
9	Tread not clearly visible	1.3%	3
10	Bent so it cannot be readily operated	0.8%	2

Suzuki SV 650 AL8 for sale

No Suzuki SV 650 AL8 in stock at the moment - 529 other Suzuki bikes are advertised.

Used Suzuki SV 650 AL8 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 SV 650 AL8 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki SV 650 AL8?+

87.34% of Suzuki SV 650 AL8 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 237 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki SV 650 AL8?+

Too low, which appears in 100% 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.