Kawasaki Zx900-a4 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 85 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 22.4%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Kawasaki Zx900-a4 MOT Reliability Overview
The Kawasaki Zx900-a4 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 85 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.6% and a failure rate of 22.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Kawasaki Zx900-a4 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Kawasaki Zx900-a4 presents for MOT with approximately 31,203 miles on the clock. The 1987 manufacture year performs best with a 71.4% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Kawasaki Zx900-a4 is Motorcycle steering and suspension, affecting 18.8% of all tests. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. The second most common issue is Motorcycle brakes at 17.6%. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors rounds out the top three at 8.2%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 22.4% | 19 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Brakes | 18.8% | 16 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 8.2% | 7 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 5.9% | 5 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Drive System | 4.7% | 4 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 4.7% | 4 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 2.4% | 2 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 2.4% | 2 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 1.2% | 1 |
| 10 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 1.2% | 1 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Tyres | 1.2% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 31,203 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 7.16 | 22.4% | 19 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 6.03 | 18.8% | 16 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 2.64 | 8.2% | 7 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 1.89 | 5.9% | 5 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 1.51 | 4.7% | 4 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.51 | 4.7% | 4 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.75 | 2.4% | 2 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.75 | 2.4% | 2 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 0.38 | 1.2% | 1 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.38 | 1.2% | 1 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.38 | 1.2% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Kawasaki Zx900-a4 has 31,203 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Kawasaki Zx900-a4 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 7.18% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Kawasaki Zx900-a4 MOT Data
The Kawasaki Zx900-a4 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 85 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.6% and a failure rate of 22.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Kawasaki Zx900-a4 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle steering and suspension and motorcycle brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Zx900-a4 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 18.8% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 18.8% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zx900-a4. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Motorcycle brakes — 17.6% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 17.6% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zx900-a4. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 8.2% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 8.2% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zx900-a4. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki Zx900-a4?
Based on 85 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Kawasaki Zx900-a4 has an overall pass rate of 77.6% (22.4% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Kawasaki Zx900-a4?
The top 3 reasons a Kawasaki Zx900-a4 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle steering and suspension (18.8%), 2. Motorcycle brakes (17.6%), 3. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (8.2%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Kawasaki Zx900-a4 reliable?
With a 22.4% MOT failure rate, the Zx900-a4 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Kawasaki Zx900-a4?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle steering and suspension (18.8%); Motorcycle brakes (17.6%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (8.2%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.