Suzuki Drz 400 Sm K5 (2006)

136 real MOT outcomes analysed • 58.2% first-time pass rate

2006 Suzuki Drz 400 Sm K5

CarHunch analysed 136 real MOT records for the 2006 Suzuki Drz 400 Sm K5. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 2006 Suzuki DRZ 400 SM is a troublemaker on MOT day: just 58.2% pass first time versus the UK average of 80%, meaning nearly half will need a retest. The good news is that dangerous defects are rare at 8.8%, so failures tend to be fixable rather than safety-critical.

The median mileage of 9,292 is genuinely low for an 18-year-old bike, which actually works against the reliability picture—these machines simply aren't being ridden hard enough to shake out problems, and many failures cluster around wear items like brakes and tyres. Expect to tackle an average of 0.93 failures and 2.8 advisories per test, so budget for regular maintenance before each MOT if you're considering one.

Below average reliability 21.8% below UK average
58.2%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
9,292
typical mileage
6,395–12,638 middle half
8.8%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.93
avg MOT failures per car
over 6.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2006 Suzuki Drz 400 Sm K5

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Suzuki Drz 400 Sm K5

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (96%) 130 56.3% 0.98
Other (4%) 6 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Suzuki Drz 400 Sm K5 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

6,395
low mileage
9,292
typical
12,638
high mileage

Half of all 2006 Suzuki Drz 400 Sm K5 vehicles fall between 6,395 and 12,638 miles.

2006 Suzuki Drz 400 Sm K5 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 21 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (47% of peak).

45 21 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

6.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.93
Avg failures per vehicle
2.8
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Suzuki Drz 400 Sm K5?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Suzuki Drz 400 Sm K5:

2005