KAWASAKI ER 500 C3

498cc Petrol Class 2

#2909 of 5426 overall #344 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1836 of 2787 other bikes

83.2%

first-time pass rate

9.6%

failed outright

16,210

median miles at test

208

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the ER 500 C3's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ER 500 C3 passes first time 88.4% of the time; by 20k that's 77.3%.

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 C3

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	10	26.3
lighting and signalling	10	26.3
brakes	10	26.3
body and structure	2	5.3
drive system	2	5.3
tyres and wheels	2	5.3
driving controls	1	2.6
lamps and reflectors	1	2.6

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 C3 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 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 C3.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2005 (87.2% pass). Weakest: 2003 (80.7%).

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.