Kawasaki Zx9r MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 2,665 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 23.8%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Kawasaki Zx9r MOT Reliability Overview
The Kawasaki Zx9r is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,665 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 11 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.2% and a failure rate of 23.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Kawasaki Zx9r earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Kawasaki Zx9r presents for MOT with approximately 30,773 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2004 models achieve the highest pass rate at 83.9%, while 1996 models have the lowest at 68.4%. This 15.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Kawasaki Zx9r is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 12.0% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lighting and signalling at 11.9%. Motorcycle steering and suspension rounds out the top three at 8.4%. 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
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
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 Brakes | 14.3% | 382 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 14.1% | 376 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 9.6% | 255 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 6.9% | 184 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 3.6% | 97 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 3.3% | 88 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Drive System | 2.8% | 74 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 2.4% | 63 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Tyres | 2.1% | 56 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 2.0% | 54 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 1.7% | 44 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Suspension | 1.5% | 41 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.9% | 23 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.6% | 16 |
| 15 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.3% | 9 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 30,773 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 brakes | 4.66 | 14.3% | 382 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 4.58 | 14.1% | 376 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 3.11 | 9.6% | 255 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 2.24 | 6.9% | 184 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.18 | 3.6% | 97 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.07 | 3.3% | 88 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.90 | 2.8% | 74 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.77 | 2.4% | 63 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.68 | 2.1% | 56 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.66 | 2.0% | 54 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.54 | 1.7% | 44 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.50 | 1.5% | 41 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.28 | 0.9% | 23 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.20 | 0.6% | 16 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.11 | 0.3% | 9 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Kawasaki Zx9r has 30,773 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 Zx9r has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 7.73% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Kawasaki Zx9r MOT Data
The Kawasaki Zx9r is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,665 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 11 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.2% and a failure rate of 23.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Kawasaki Zx9r owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle brakes and motorcycle lighting and signalling 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 Zx9r is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 12.0% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 12.0% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zx9r. 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 lighting and signalling — 11.9% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 11.9% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zx9r. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 8.4% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 8.4% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zx9r. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki Zx9r?
Based on 2,665 MOT tests in our database, the Kawasaki Zx9r has an overall pass rate of 76.2% (23.8% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Kawasaki Zx9r?
The top 3 reasons a Kawasaki Zx9r fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (12.0%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (11.9%), 3. Motorcycle steering and suspension (8.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Kawasaki Zx9r reliable?
With a 23.8% MOT failure rate, the Zx9r is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Kawasaki Zx9r?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (12.0%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (11.9%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (8.4%). 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.