1979 Kawasaki Z650 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age

47 years

Current Age

82.6%

Latest Pass Rate

791

Total Tests (All Years)

35,202 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 1979 Kawasaki Z650 as it ages.

30 yrs81.2%

→ ↑3.9%

31 yrs85.1%

→ ↓3.0%

32 yrs82.1%

→ ↑5.1%

33 yrs87.2%

→ ↑5.5%

34 yrs92.7%

→ ↓7.4%

35 yrs85.3%

→ ↓1.2%

36 yrs84.1%

→ ↑4.0%

37 yrs88.1%

→ ↓3.3%

38 yrs84.8%

→ ↓0.4%

39 yrs84.4%

→ ↓1.8%

40 yrs82.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
30 yrs	81.2%	85
31 yrs	85.1%	87
32 yrs	82.1%	78
33 yrs	87.2%	78
34 yrs	92.7%	82
35 yrs	85.3%	75
36 yrs	84.1%	82
37 yrs	88.1%	67
38 yrs	84.8%	66
39 yrs	84.4%	45
40 yrs	82.6%	46

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1979 Kawasaki Z650 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (40 yrs)	82.6%	46
2018 (39 yrs)	84.4%	45
2017 (38 yrs)	84.8%	66
2016 (37 yrs)	88.1%	67
2015 (36 yrs)	84.1%	82
2014 (35 yrs)	85.3%	75
2013 (34 yrs)	92.7%	82
2012 (33 yrs)	87.2%	78
2011 (32 yrs)	82.1%	78
2010 (31 yrs)	85.1%	87
2009 (30 yrs)	81.2%	85

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

81.2%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 85Avg Mileage 39,009Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.8%

2010

85.1%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 87Avg Mileage 36,759Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 6.9%

2011

82.1%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 78Avg Mileage 38,816Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 10.3%

2012

87.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 78Avg Mileage 37,498Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 6.4%

2013

92.7%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 82Avg Mileage 34,500Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 4.9%

2014

85.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 75Avg Mileage 35,114Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 25.3%

2015

84.1%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 82Avg Mileage 32,943Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.8%

2016

88.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 67Avg Mileage 32,222Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.9%

2017

84.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 66Avg Mileage 34,936Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 18.2%

2018

84.4%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 45Avg Mileage 35,923Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 6.7%

2019

82.6%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 46Avg Mileage 35,202Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 15.2%

MOT results for 1979 Kawasaki Z650 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	30	81.2%	85	39,009	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.8%
2010	31	85.1%	87	36,759	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 6.9%
2011	32	82.1%	78	38,816	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 10.3%
2012	33	87.2%	78	37,498	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 6.4%
2013	34	92.7%	82	34,500	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 4.9%
2014	35	85.3%	75	35,114	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 25.3%
2015	36	84.1%	82	32,943	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.8%
2016	37	88.1%	67	32,222	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.9%
2017	38	84.8%	66	34,936	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 18.2%
2018	39	84.4%	45	35,923	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 6.7%
2019	40	82.6%	46	35,202	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 15.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1979 Kawasaki Z650, with age trends.

Motorcycle lighting and signalling

11.7%

↑ Increases with age

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors

11.0%

↑ Increases with age

Motorcycle steering and suspension

6.1%

— Consistent

Motorcycle structure and attachments

4.3%

— Consistent

Motorcycle brakes

3.8%

— 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	5.9% (30 yrs)	4.3% (40 yrs)	-1.6%	⚪ —

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 1979 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 791 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.