Kawasaki Zzr MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 3,862 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 20.0%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Kawasaki Zzr MOT Reliability Overview
The Kawasaki Zzr is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,862 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 21 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.0% and a failure rate of 20.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Kawasaki Zzr earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Kawasaki Zzr presents for MOT with approximately 30,776 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2010 models achieve the highest pass rate at 94.0%, while 1991 models have the lowest at 70.0%. This 24.0 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Kawasaki Zzr is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 13.3% 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 steering and suspension at 7.3%. Motorcycle lighting and signalling rounds out the top three at 6.7%. 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 | 16.1% | 622 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 9.5% | 366 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 7.7% | 296 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 6.6% | 254 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Drive System | 4.2% | 162 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 2.6% | 99 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.9% | 75 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Suspension | 1.7% | 65 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 1.4% | 55 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 1.0% | 38 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Tyres | 1.0% | 37 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.9% | 35 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.8% | 29 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.3% | 13 |
| 15 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.3% | 11 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 30,776 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 | 5.23 | 16.1% | 622 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 3.08 | 9.5% | 366 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 2.49 | 7.7% | 296 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 2.14 | 6.6% | 254 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 1.36 | 4.2% | 162 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.83 | 2.6% | 99 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.63 | 1.9% | 75 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.55 | 1.7% | 65 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.46 | 1.4% | 55 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.32 | 1.0% | 38 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.31 | 1.0% | 37 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.29 | 0.9% | 35 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.24 | 0.8% | 29 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.11 | 0.3% | 13 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.09 | 0.3% | 11 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Kawasaki Zzr has 30,776 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 Zzr has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 6.50% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Kawasaki Zzr MOT Data
The Kawasaki Zzr is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,862 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 21 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.0% and a failure rate of 20.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Kawasaki Zzr 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 steering and suspension 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 Zzr is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 13.3% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 13.3% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zzr. 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 steering and suspension — 7.3% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 7.3% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zzr. 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 lighting and signalling — 6.7% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 6.7% of MOT failures on the Kawasaki Zzr. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki Zzr?
Based on 3,862 MOT tests in our database, the Kawasaki Zzr has an overall pass rate of 80.0% (20.0% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Kawasaki Zzr?
The top 3 reasons a Kawasaki Zzr fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (13.3%), 2. Motorcycle steering and suspension (7.3%), 3. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (6.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Kawasaki Zzr reliable?
With a 20.0% MOT failure rate, the Zzr is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Kawasaki Zzr?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (13.3%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (7.3%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (6.7%). 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.