Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Suzuki Ts50?

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 1998 Suzuki Ts50?

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 1998 Suzuki Ts50?

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 1998 Suzuki Ts50 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 128 vehicles, the 1998 Suzuki Ts50 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Suzuki Ts50?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Suzuki Ts50 are: Rear reflector on motorcycle missing (56% of vehicles), Rear suspension bush has slight free play (51.7% of vehicles), Rear wheel bearings have slight free play (33.4% 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 1998 Suzuki Ts50?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Suzuki Ts50 (1998)

128 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.2% first-time pass rate

1998 Suzuki Ts50

CarHunch analysed 128 real MOT records for the 1998 Suzuki Ts50. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

This 1998 Suzuki TS50 has a first-time pass rate of 73.2%, which sits 6.8 points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests these machines need a bit more care and attention to keep roadworthy. The good news is that dangerous defects are relatively rare, affecting only 15.6% of the cohort, so safety-critical failures aren't a widespread concern.

At a median mileage of 15,923 miles for a 26-year-old bike, these machines have been ridden gently, which partly explains why they're still in decent condition despite the lower pass rate. The average vehicle racks up 1.86 failures and 5.3 advisories per test, pointing to manageable wear on consumables and minor components rather than structural problems—so before buying, factor in a pre-purchase inspection and budget for routine maintenance to close that pass-rate gap.

We have limited data for the 1998 Suzuki Ts50 — 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

73.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

15.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.86

Over 6.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

16k

Middle half: 12k–21k

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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

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

Lighting 56%

Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too high · …

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

Suspension & steering 51.7%

Rear suspension bush has 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.

Other issues 32.5%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Rear mono-shock pivot worn but not excessive · Drive chain sprocket carrier worn but not considered excessive · …

Brake wear 18.9%

Front Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies

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

Exhaust & emissions 17.3%

Exhaust noisy

Tyre wear 15.8%

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.

Wipers & washers 15.5%

Fuel cap sealing washer missing

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 128 Suzuki Ts50 cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Suzuki Ts50

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

📋 Check the full MOT history. 15.6% 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 1998 Suzuki Ts50 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.

15,923

typical

11,767

low mileage

20,567

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Suzuki Ts50 vehicles fall between 11,767 and 20,567 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 11,767 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.

✓ 11,767–20,567 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Suzuki Ts50s sit.

⚠ Over 27,765 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Suzuki Ts50 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 50% of 1998 Suzuki Ts50s are still active.

12 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 50% 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

6.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.86

Avg failures per vehicle

5.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Suzuki Ts50: All Ts50 years → Which year to buy? →

1999 2000

Or browse all models: Suzuki →

Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Suzuki Ts50 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on