Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Suzuki Vl800?

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 Vl800?

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 Vl800?

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 Vl800 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 144 vehicles, the 2004 Suzuki Vl800 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.3%, 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 Vl800?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Suzuki Vl800 are: Exhaust noisy (89.4% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59.7% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (51% 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 Vl800?

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 Vl800 (2004)

144 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.3% first-time pass rate

2004 Suzuki Vl800

CarHunch analysed 144 real MOT records for the 2004 Suzuki Vl800. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2004 Suzuki VL800 passes its MOT first time in 90.3% of cases, comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, which suggests these machines are generally well-maintained and mechanically sound. Dangerous defects are found in 15.3% of examples, which is manageable but worth a pre-purchase inspection to rule out.

With a median mileage of just 10,430 miles for a 20-year-old bike, these are typically low-use leisure vehicles that haven't been thrashed, though the average jumps to 12,907 suggesting some outliers with serious miles. When failures do occur, they're minor (averaging 1.18 per vehicle) and most attention goes to advisory items like wear components; get a detailed MOT history check before buying to see what advisories are recurring, and budget for preventive work on the areas that keep cropping up.

We have limited data for the 2004 Suzuki Vl800 — 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

90.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

15.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.18

Over 11.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

10k

Middle half: 6k–16k

For context

These stats describe 144 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 144 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 89.4%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition

Tyre wear 59.7%

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.

Brake wear 16.3%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies · Rear 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 14.4%

Headlamp aim too low · Headlamp aim too high · Exhaust slightly deteriorated

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

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 144 Suzuki Vl800 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Suzuki Vl800

Based on MOT data from 144 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 15.3% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (98%)	141	90.3%	1.2

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Suzuki Vl800 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.

10,430

typical

5,962

low mileage

15,977

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Suzuki Vl800 vehicles fall between 5,962 and 15,977 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 5,962 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.

✓ 5,962–15,977 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Suzuki Vl800s sit.

⚠ Over 21,568 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 Vl800 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 65% of 2004 Suzuki Vl800s are still active.

52 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 65% 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

11.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.18

Avg failures per vehicle

3.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Suzuki Vl800: All Vl800 years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2002 2003

Or browse all models: Suzuki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Suzuki Vl800 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?