1978 Kawasaki Z650 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

85.5%

Latest Pass Rate

1,166

Total Tests (All Years)

34,913 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1978 Kawasaki Z650 as it ages.

31 yrs81.1%

→ ↓0.6%

32 yrs80.5%

→ ↓1.1%

33 yrs79.4%

→ ↑2.1%

34 yrs81.5%

→ ↓0.2%

35 yrs81.3%

→ ↑0.8%

36 yrs82.1%

→ ↓6.9%

37 yrs75.2%

→ ↑6.9%

38 yrs82.1%

→ ↓1.5%

39 yrs80.6%

→ ↑4.9%

40 yrs85.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	81.1%	132
32 yrs	80.5%	128
33 yrs	79.4%	136
34 yrs	81.5%	119
35 yrs	81.3%	123
36 yrs	82.1%	117
37 yrs	75.2%	121
38 yrs	82.1%	106
39 yrs	80.6%	108
40 yrs	85.5%	76

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 Kawasaki Z650 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (40 yrs)	85.5%	76
2017 (39 yrs)	80.6%	108
2016 (38 yrs)	82.1%	106
2015 (37 yrs)	75.2%	121
2014 (36 yrs)	82.1%	117
2013 (35 yrs)	81.3%	123
2012 (34 yrs)	81.5%	119
2011 (33 yrs)	79.4%	136
2010 (32 yrs)	80.5%	128
2009 (31 yrs)	81.1%	132

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

81.1%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 132Avg Mileage 35,063Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 10.6%

2010

80.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 128Avg Mileage 35,550Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 12.5%

2011

79.4%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 136Avg Mileage 34,365Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 13.2%

2012

81.5%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 119Avg Mileage 33,675Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.8%

2013

81.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 123Avg Mileage 32,594Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 17.1%

2014

82.1%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 117Avg Mileage 33,520Top Failure Motorcycle brakes — 17.9%

2015

75.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 121Avg Mileage 34,205Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 29.8%

2016

82.1%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 106Avg Mileage 32,017Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 16.0%

2017

80.6%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 108Avg Mileage 33,837Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 17.6%

2018

85.5%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 76Avg Mileage 34,913Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 10.5%

MOT results for 1978 Kawasaki Z650 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	81.1%	132	35,063	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 10.6%
2010	32	80.5%	128	35,550	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 12.5%
2011	33	79.4%	136	34,365	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 13.2%
2012	34	81.5%	119	33,675	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.8%
2013	35	81.3%	123	32,594	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 17.1%
2014	36	82.1%	117	33,520	Motorcycle brakes — 17.9%
2015	37	75.2%	121	34,205	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 29.8%
2016	38	82.1%	106	32,017	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 16.0%
2017	39	80.6%	108	33,837	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 17.6%
2018	40	85.5%	76	34,913	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 10.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 Kawasaki Z650, with age trends.

Motorcycle lighting and signalling

16.3%

↑ Increases with age

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors

10.5%

— Consistent

Motorcycle brakes

9.6%

— Consistent

Motorcycle steering and suspension

6.9%

— Consistent

Motorcycle tyres and wheels

4.7%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Motorcycle brakes	6.1% (31 yrs)	3.9% (40 yrs)	-2.2%	🟢 ↓
Motorcycle steering and suspension	4.5% (31 yrs)	3.9% (40 yrs)	-0.6%	⚪ —
Motorcycle fuel and exhaust	2.3% (31 yrs)	2.6% (40 yrs)	+0.3%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1977 1978 1979 1980 1981

← Back to Kawasaki Z650 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Kawasaki Z650 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Kawasaki Z650 cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 1,166 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.