Suzuki VL MOT pass rate and common failures

Suzuki VL motorcycles pass the MOT 90.18% of the time, measured across 285 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.51% 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 90.18% 257 of 285

Fixed at the station 3.51% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 14,953 miles

Average age at test 11.02 years old

Engine 943cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Suzuki VL 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 33.3% of failed tests on this model.
Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and flashing more than 120 times a minute, the next two most common reasons.
Age matters here: 92.23% of 6-10 year old examples pass, against 87.1% at 16+ years - a gap of 5.1 points.
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 (6.7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 14,953 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	92.23%	206
11-15 years	83.33%	48
16+ years	87.1%	31

Why the Suzuki VL 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	33.3%	6
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	22.2%	4
3	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	16.7%	3
4	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	16.7%	3
5	Does not conform to the specified requirements	11.1%	2
6	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	11.1%	2
7	Less than 1.0 mm thick	11.1%	2
8	Missing	11.1%	2
9	Remains on when the brakes are released	11.1%	2
10	Seriously damaged	11.1%	2

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	6.7%	19
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	6%	17
3	Seriously damaged	1.4%	4
4	Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced	1.1%	3
5	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.1%	3
6	Tread not clearly visible	1.1%	3
7	Excessively binding	0.7%	2
8	Excessively corroded	0.7%	2
9	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	0.7%	2
10	Less than 1.0 mm thick	0.7%	2

Suzuki VL for sale

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

Used Suzuki VL 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
Triumph TIGER · 969cc	16,144	91.27%	22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc	12,456	90.8%	12,824
BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc	9,796	91.92%	40,594
BMW R1200 · 1,170cc	9,521	94.43%	28,830
BMW S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc	6,170	95.28%	27,241

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

Suzuki VL MOT questions

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

90.18% of Suzuki VL MOT tests end in a pass, based on 285 tests in the DVSA dataset.

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

Not working, which appears in 33.3% of failed tests on this model.

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

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 87.1%, against 92.23% for examples 6-10 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.