KAWASAKI EN500

498cc Petrol Class 2

#3831 of 5426 overall #454 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2428 of 2787 other bikes

78.6%

first-time pass rate

13.2%

failed outright

17,781

median miles at test

6,448

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The EN500's first-time pass rate has risen 3.3 points since 2005, 74.5% to 77.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the EN500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage EN500 passes first time 85.1% of the time; by 50k that's 60.6%.

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 EN500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	419	23.6	1.1×
brakes	386	21.8	1.1×
steering and suspension	310	17.5	1.2×
tyres and wheels	188	10.6	1.3×
fuel and exhaust	143	8.1	2.4×
lamps and reflectors	92	5.2	0.7×
reg plates and vin	72	4.1	1.5×
suspension	65	3.7	1.0×
structure and attachments	54	3	1.0×
body and structure	45	2.5	1.1×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the EN500 beats 2 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 EN500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (84.7% pass). Weakest: 1992 (76.4%).

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.

KAWASAKI EN500 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI EN500 reliable?

The KAWASAKI EN500 is less reliable than average for its class: 78.6% of its 6,448 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3831 of 5426 models.

What does a EN500 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 24% of all defects recorded against failed EN500 tests.

What is the best year of EN500 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (84.7%) and 1992 worst (76.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a EN500 last?

The median EN500 shows 17,781 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 60.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.