Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Suzuki Dl1000?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Suzuki Dl1000?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Suzuki Dl1000?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2004 Suzuki Dl1000 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 152 vehicles, the 2004 Suzuki Dl1000 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Suzuki Dl1000?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Suzuki Dl1000 are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (55.5% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (54.5% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (36.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Suzuki Dl1000?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Suzuki Dl1000 (2004)

152 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.9% first-time pass rate

2004 Suzuki Dl1000

CarHunch analysed 152 real MOT records for the 2004 Suzuki Dl1000. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2004 Suzuki DL1000 is a genuinely reliable machine—an 87.9% first-time pass rate sits well ahead of the UK average of 80%, and the 18.4% dangerous defect rate, while worth noting, isn't alarming enough to be a dealbreaker. Petrol bikes of this era tend to age well, and this one bears that out.

What's striking is the low mileage profile: median is just 23,319 miles for a 20-year-old bike, suggesting these machines either weren't ridden hard or owners took care of them. The average of 1.64 failures per MOT and 6.6 advisories indicate minor wear issues are common—typical for bikes this age—but nothing systematic or catastrophic. When shopping for one, budget for those minor advisory fixes, but a pre-purchase inspection by a Suzuki-familiar mechanic will confirm whether you're looking at a well-kept example or one hiding problems.

We have limited data for the 2004 Suzuki Dl1000 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

87.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

18.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.64

Over 12.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

23k

Middle half: 14k–32k

For context

These stats describe 152 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 152 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 55.5%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Exhaust & emissions 36.4%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Brake wear 33%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 29.9%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear Drive chain sprocket slightly worn

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Other issues 14%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Suspension & steering 13.4%

Steering movement slightly 'notchy' · Rear wheel bearings have slight free play · Rear Wheel bearing has slight play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 152 Suzuki Dl1000 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Suzuki Dl1000

Based on MOT data from 152 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Suzuki Dl1000 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

23,319

typical

14,406

low mileage

32,131

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Suzuki Dl1000 vehicles fall between 14,406 and 32,131 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 14,406 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 14,406–32,131 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Suzuki Dl1000s sit.

⚠ Over 43,376 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Suzuki Dl1000 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 49% of 2004 Suzuki Dl1000s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 52 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (49% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.64

Avg failures per vehicle

6.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Suzuki Dl1000: All Dl1000 years → Which year to buy? →

2002 2003 2006 2007 2008

Or browse all models: Suzuki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Suzuki Dl1000 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?