KAWASAKI EJ650-A1

676cc Petrol Class 2

#775 of 5426 overall #88 of 592 KAWASAKIs #471 of 2787 other bikes

90.6%

first-time pass rate

3.8%

failed outright

11,502

median miles at test

392

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2008

The EJ650-A1's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.9 points since 2006, 83.3% to 79.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the EJ650-A1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage EJ650-A1 passes first time 92.5% of the time; by 20k that's 97.7%.

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 EJ650-A1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
tyres and wheels	8	33.3
Items Not Tested	4	16.7
lighting and signalling	3	12.5
fuel and exhaust	2	8.3
brakes	2	8.3
reg plates and vin	2	8.3
drive system	1	4.2
steering and suspension	1	4.2
body and structure	1	4.2

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 EJ650-A1 beats 4 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 HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 EJ650-A1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2002 (98.0% pass). Weakest: 1999 (85.6%).

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.