KAWASAKI ER500

499cc Petrol Class 2

#3513 of 5426 overall #416 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2237 of 2787 other bikes

80.3%

first-time pass rate

11.8%

failed outright

23,340

median miles at test

390

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2010–2015

The ER500's first-time pass rate has risen 7.3 points since 2010, 73.3% to 80.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ER500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ER500 passes first time 82.9% of the time; by 40k that's 74.4%.

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 ER500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	23	23
lighting and signalling	23	23
brakes	22	22
drive system	8	8
lamps and reflectors	7	7
tyres and wheels	6	6
tyres	4	4
structure and attachments	3	3
steering	2	2
fuel and exhaust	2	2

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 ER500 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 ER500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (85.1% pass). Weakest: 2005 (70.6%).

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.