KAWASAKI ER 500-A2

498cc Petrol Class 2

#4406 of 5426 overall #541 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2702 of 2787 other bikes

73.9%

first-time pass rate

19.0%

failed outright

21,699

median miles at test

406

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2009

The ER 500-A2's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.0 points since 2006, 76.3% to 74.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ER 500-A2's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ER 500-A2 passes first time 70.9% of the time; by 30k that's 68.6%.

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 ER 500-A2

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	54	28.6
steering and suspension	40	21.2
lighting and signalling	33	17.5
tyres and wheels	20	10.6
drive system	15	7.9
fuel and exhaust	10	5.3
driving controls	7	3.7
lamps and reflectors	5	2.6
body and structure	3	1.6
structure and attachments	2	1.1

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 ER 500-A2 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 ER 500-A2.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (74.4% pass). Weakest: 1999 (67.7%).

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.