KAWASAKI ER 500-A4

498cc Petrol Class 2

#4044 of 5426 overall #484 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2555 of 2787 other bikes

77.1%

first-time pass rate

14.2%

failed outright

22,330

median miles at test

436

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The ER 500-A4's first-time pass rate has risen 2.6 points since 2006, 76.8% to 79.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ER 500-A4's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ER 500-A4 passes first time 83.5% of the time; by 40k that's 57.6%.

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-A4

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	37	27.8
lighting and signalling	35	26.3
brakes	25	18.8
tyres and wheels	11	8.3
drive system	7	5.3
lamps and reflectors	6	4.5
fuel and exhaust	5	3.8
suspension	3	2.3
structure and attachments	2	1.5
driving controls	2	1.5

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-A4 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-A4.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2001 (87.1% pass). Weakest: 2000 (75.8%).

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.