Model report · 2005–2025
KAWASAKI EN450-A3
454cc
Petrol
Class 2
76.2%
first-time pass rate
17.0%
failed outright
22,564
median miles at test
147
MOT tests, 2005–2025
What fails on a EN450-A3
failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering and suspension |
|
17 | 30.4 |
| lighting and signalling |
|
9 | 16.1 |
| structure and attachments |
|
7 | 12.5 |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
7 | 12.5 |
| brakes |
|
6 | 10.7 |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
4 | 7.1 |
| tyres and wheels |
|
2 | 3.6 |
| driving controls |
|
2 | 3.6 |
| steering |
|
1 | 1.8 |
| reg plates and vin |
|
1 | 1.8 |
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 EN450-A3 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, YAMAHA XV535, SUZUKI GS500).
KAWASAKI
ER5
77.4% pass · 53.1k tests
YAMAHA
XV535
82.7% pass · 48.1k tests
SUZUKI
GS500
76.4% pass · 44.9k tests
SUZUKI
AN400
86.2% pass · 27.1k 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 EN450-A3.
Pass rate by registration year
how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date
Best year to buy used: 1987 (78.8% pass). Weakest: 1988 (73.1%).
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.