Suzuki SV650 MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki SV650 motorcycles pass the MOT 80.99% of the time, measured across 3,834 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.65% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 5.9 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 80.99% 3,105 of 3,834

Fixed at the station 6.65% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 27,644 miles

Average age at test 21.7 years old

Engine 646cc MOT class 2

For sale now 2 Suzuki SV650 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 39.5% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and insecure, 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 (12.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 27,644 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	82.91%		158
16+ years	80.86%		3,663

Why the Suzuki SV650 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	39.5%	187
2	Missing	19%	90
3	Insecure	15.6%	74
4	Has a serious fluid leak	14.1%	67
5	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	13.5%	64
6	Excessively binding	12.2%	58
7	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	10.1%	48
8	Does not conform to the specified requirements	8%	38
9	Too high	8%	38
10	Too low	7.8%	37

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	12.6%	484
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	6.1%	235
3	Has a serious fluid leak	4.6%	175
4	Excessively loose	4%	153
5	Excessively binding	3.1%	117
6	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	2.9%	113
7	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.8%	107
8	Worn to excess	2.1%	79
9	Excessively stiff or notchy	2%	78
10	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	2%	78

Suzuki SV650 for sale

2 Suzuki SV650 adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 528 Suzuki in total.

Used Suzuki SV650 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 GSXR600 · 599cc	3,831	81.83%	25,077

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

Suzuki SV650 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Suzuki SV650?+

80.99% of Suzuki SV650 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 3,834 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Suzuki SV650?+

Not working, which appears in 39.5% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Suzuki SV650 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 80.86%, against 82.91% 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.