Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Suzuki Dr Z400s?

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 Dr Z400s?

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 Dr Z400s?

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 Dr Z400s reliable?

Based on MOT data from 337 vehicles, the 2004 Suzuki Dr Z400s has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.2%, 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 Dr Z400s?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Suzuki Dr Z400s are: Exhaust noisy (46% of vehicles), Chain guard missing (30.6% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (29.8% 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 Dr Z400s?

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 Dr Z400s (2004)

337 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.2% first-time pass rate

2004 Suzuki Dr Z400s

CarHunch analysed 337 real MOT records for the 2004 Suzuki Dr Z400s. 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

Moderate sample. 337 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2004 Suzuki DR-Z400S passes its MOT first time at 85.2%, which sits comfortably above the UK average of 80%, suggesting these bikes are generally well-maintained. The dangerous defect rate of 16.3% is moderate and worth noting, but not alarming for a 20-year-old off-road machine.

The median mileage of just 5,655 miles indicates many of these bikes see light use—often garage queens or weekend warriors—which explains why they tend to stay reliable despite their age. With 1.67 average failures per vehicle, prospective buyers should budget for minor fixes, but the real consideration is the 4.7 advisories per bike, which suggests wear on consumables like brakes, tyres, and seals; get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the fuel system and chassis integrity before committing.

The 2004 Suzuki Dr Z400s passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (85.2%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

85.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

16.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.67

Over 10.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

Middle half: 3k–11k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 85.2% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 337 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 337 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 46%

Exhaust noisy

Other issues 30.6%

Chain guard missing · Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Horn not working

Tyre wear 29.8%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

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

Lighting 26.7%

Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · No lights fitted at time of test · Rear reflector missing · …

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

Brake wear 21.9%

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.

Suspension & steering 8.5%

Front wheel bearings have slight free play · Rear wheel bearings have 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 337 Suzuki Dr Z400s cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Suzuki Dr Z400s

Based on MOT data from 337 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.3% 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 3,063 Suzuki Dr Z400s vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Yellow 53.2%

1,631

Blue 32.2%

986

Black 6.7%

205

White 6.3%

194

Silver 1.1%

Multi-colour 0.2%

Green 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Suzuki Dr Z400s 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.

5,655

typical

3,027

low mileage

11,037

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Suzuki Dr Z400s vehicles fall between 3,027 and 11,037 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 3,027 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.

✓ 3,027–11,037 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Suzuki Dr Z400ss sit.

⚠ Over 14,899 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 Dr Z400s — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 54% of 2004 Suzuki Dr Z400ss are still active.

96 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 54% 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

10.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.67

Avg failures per vehicle

4.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Suzuki Dr Z400s: All Dr Z400s years → Which year to buy? →

2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006

Or browse all models: Suzuki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Suzuki Dr Z400s stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?