1981 Kawasaki Z650 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

75.0%

Latest Pass Rate

433

Total Tests (All Years)

30,348 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 1981 Kawasaki Z650 as it ages.

28 yrs67.4%

→ ↑7.0%

29 yrs74.4%

→ ↓8.4%

30 yrs66.0%

→ ↑14.8%

31 yrs80.8%

→ ↑0.8%

32 yrs81.6%

→ ↓0.6%

33 yrs81.0%

→ ↓7.7%

34 yrs73.3%

→ ↑3.6%

35 yrs76.9%

→ ↑6.4%

36 yrs83.3%

→ ↓8.3%

38 yrs75.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	67.4%	46
29 yrs	74.4%	43
30 yrs	66.0%	50
31 yrs	80.8%	52
32 yrs	81.6%	38
33 yrs	81.0%	42
34 yrs	73.3%	45
35 yrs	76.9%	39
36 yrs	83.3%	42
38 yrs	75.0%	36

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Kawasaki Z650 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (38 yrs)	75%	36
2017 (36 yrs)	83.3%	42
2016 (35 yrs)	76.9%	39
2015 (34 yrs)	73.3%	45
2014 (33 yrs)	81%	42
2013 (32 yrs)	81.6%	38
2012 (31 yrs)	80.8%	52
2011 (30 yrs)	66%	50
2010 (29 yrs)	74.4%	43
2009 (28 yrs)	67.4%	46

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

67.4%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 46Avg Mileage 33,759Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 23.9%

2010

74.4%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 43Avg Mileage 32,520Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 14.0%

2011

66.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 50Avg Mileage 31,068Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 24.0%

2012

80.8%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 52Avg Mileage 31,702Top Failure Motorcycle brakes — 11.5%

2013

81.6%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 38Avg Mileage 32,287Top Failure Motorcycle steering and suspension — 31.6%

2014

81.0%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 42Avg Mileage 33,211Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 23.8%

2015

73.3%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 45Avg Mileage 31,762Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 33.3%

2016

76.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 39Avg Mileage 30,914Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 15.4%

2017

83.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 42Avg Mileage 33,371Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 16.7%

2019

75.0%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 36Avg Mileage 30,348Top Failure Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 30.6%

MOT results for 1981 Kawasaki Z650 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	67.4%	46	33,759	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 23.9%
2010	29	74.4%	43	32,520	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 14.0%
2011	30	66.0%	50	31,068	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 24.0%
2012	31	80.8%	52	31,702	Motorcycle brakes — 11.5%
2013	32	81.6%	38	32,287	Motorcycle steering and suspension — 31.6%
2014	33	81.0%	42	33,211	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 23.8%
2015	34	73.3%	45	31,762	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 33.3%
2016	35	76.9%	39	30,914	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 15.4%
2017	36	83.3%	42	33,371	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 16.7%
2019	38	75.0%	36	30,348	Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 30.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Kawasaki Z650, with age trends.

Motorcycle lamps and reflectors

30.6%

— Consistent

Motorcycle lighting and signalling

19.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Motorcycle structure and attachments

16.7%

— Consistent

Motorcycle suspension

13.9%

— Consistent

Motorcycle brakes

13.7%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Motorcycle brakes	10.9% (28 yrs)	25.0% (38 yrs)	+14.1%	🔴 ↑

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 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 433 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.