Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1996 Suzuki Gn250?

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 1996 Suzuki Gn250?

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 1996 Suzuki Gn250?

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 1996 Suzuki Gn250 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 128 vehicles, the 1996 Suzuki Gn250 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1996 Suzuki Gn250?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1996 Suzuki Gn250 are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (37.2% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (36.7% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (27.1% 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 1996 Suzuki Gn250?

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 Gn250 (1996)

128 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.9% first-time pass rate

1996 Suzuki Gn250

CarHunch analysed 128 real MOT records for the 1996 Suzuki Gn250. 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 1996 Suzuki GN250 passes its MOT on the first attempt 82.9% of the time, slightly ahead of the UK average of 80%, which suggests reasonable reliability for a nearly 30-year-old bike. However, nearly one in five tested (18.8%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, so a pre-purchase inspection is essential rather than optional.

These machines typically show just under 25,000 miles on average, which is genuinely modest for their age and suggests many have been cherished rather than thrashed. With 1.88 failures per vehicle on average, you're looking at minor repairs when things do go wrong, but budget for the long list of advisories (5.5 per bike) — chain wear, brake pad thickness, and corrosion are common on older two-strokes. Before buying, get an independent MOT history check and specifically probe the service record for any logged dangerous defects.

We have limited data for the 1996 Suzuki Gn250 — 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

82.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

18.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.88

Over 10.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

22k

Middle half: 14k–30k

For context

These stats describe 128 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 128 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 37.2%

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.

Lighting 27.1%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear Drive chain sprocket slightly worn · Exhaust slightly deteriorated · …

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

Other issues 26.1%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain sprocket carrier worn but not considered excessive · Rear Drive chain sprocket carrier worn but not considered excessive · …

Exhaust & emissions 17.9%

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Suspension & steering 12.4%

Rear wheel bearings have slight free play · Steering headbearing has slight free play

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

Brake wear 9.6%

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.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 128 Suzuki Gn250 cars.

Before you buy a 1996 Suzuki Gn250

Based on MOT data from 128 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.8% 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 1996 Suzuki Gn250 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.

21,843

typical

13,790

low mileage

29,706

high mileage

Half of all 1996 Suzuki Gn250 vehicles fall between 13,790 and 29,706 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 13,790 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.

✓ 13,790–29,706 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1996 Suzuki Gn250s sit.

⚠ Over 40,103 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1996 Suzuki Gn250 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 28% of 1996 Suzuki Gn250s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 17 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (28% 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

10.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.88

Avg failures per vehicle

5.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Suzuki Gn250: All Gn250 years → Which year to buy? →

1992 1993 1994

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See how the 1996 Suzuki Gn250 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?