KAWASAKI 600

599cc Petrol Class 2

#4715 of 5426 overall #572 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2770 of 2787 other bikes

70.2%

first-time pass rate

23.9%

failed outright

27,130

median miles at test

289

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the 600's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 600 passes first time 78.9% of the time; by 50k that's 67.7%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a 600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	42	30
lighting and signalling	31	22.1
steering and suspension	23	16.4
tyres and wheels	17	12.1
drive system	7	5
fuel and exhaust	7	5
lamps and reflectors	5	3.6
structure and attachments	3	2.1
suspension	3	2.1
audible warning (Horn)	2	1.4

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the 600 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the 600.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1994 (76.5% pass). Weakest: 1994 (76.5%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.