Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Suzuki Dl650?

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 Dl650?

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 Dl650?

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 Dl650 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 252 vehicles, the 2004 Suzuki Dl650 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86.5%, 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 Dl650?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Suzuki Dl650 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (58.7% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (56.8% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (40.3% 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 Dl650?

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 Dl650 (2004)

252 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.5% first-time pass rate

2004 Suzuki Dl650

CarHunch analysed 252 real MOT records for the 2004 Suzuki Dl650. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Suzuki DL650 passes its MOT first time at 86.5%, which is solidly above the UK average of 80%, and dangerous defects are relatively uncommon at 18.2% of the cohort, making it a reasonably safe bet for reliability. This middleweight adventure bike holds up well against age-related wear, though advisories average 6.4 per vehicle—suggesting routine maintenance items crop up regularly.

These bikes are running a modest 22,442 miles at the median for their age, which is quite low and indicates many are cherished by enthusiasts rather than ridden hard. The average of 1.62 failures per vehicle is nothing to worry about, but if you're buying one, budget for regular servicing to keep those advisories in check and preserve this bike's decent reliability record.

We have limited data for the 2004 Suzuki Dl650 — 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

86.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

18.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.62

Over 11.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

22k

Middle half: 13k–33k

For context

These stats describe 252 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 252 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 58.7%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear 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.

Brake wear 40.3%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

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

Lighting 34.9%

Drive chain slightly loose

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

Other issues 24.1%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain excessively loose

Suspension & steering 11.6%

Rear wheel bearings have slight free play · Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · Rear suspension bearing has slight free 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 252 Suzuki Dl650 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Suzuki Dl650

Based on MOT data from 252 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.3% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,043 Suzuki Dl650 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 29.8%

609

Black 22.1%

452

Grey 14.8%

302

Red 11.5%

234

White 10.3%

211

Orange 7.9%

162

Silver 3.6%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Suzuki Dl650 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.

22,442

typical

12,960

low mileage

32,908

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Suzuki Dl650 vehicles fall between 12,960 and 32,908 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 12,960 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.

✓ 12,960–32,908 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Suzuki Dl650s sit.

⚠ Over 44,425 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 Dl650 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 53% of 2004 Suzuki Dl650s are still active.

70 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 53% of the peak remain.

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

11.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.62

Avg failures per vehicle

6.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Suzuki Dl650: All Dl650 years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Suzuki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Suzuki Dl650 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?