KAWASAKI ER500-C1

498cc Petrol Class 2

#3356 of 5426 overall #397 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2142 of 2787 other bikes

81.1%

first-time pass rate

11.3%

failed outright

15,217

median miles at test

1,110

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2019

The ER500-C1's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (79.3% → 80.0%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the ER500-C1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ER500-C1 passes first time 89.2% of the time; by 40k that's 69.0%.

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-C1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	73	24.6	1.2×
steering and suspension	68	22.9	1.3×
lighting and signalling	60	20.2	0.9×
tyres and wheels	37	12.5	1.4×
drive system	21	7.1	1.7×
lamps and reflectors	12	4	0.3×
driving controls	11	3.7	4.2×
tyres	6	2	0.5×
body and structure	5	1.7	0.8×
structure and attachments	4	1.3	0.4×

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 ER500-C1 beats 3 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-C1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2005 (88.5% pass). Weakest: 2002 (77.7%).

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.

KAWASAKI ER500-C1 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ER500-C1 reliable?

The KAWASAKI ER500-C1 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.1% of its 1,110 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3356 of 5426 models.

What does a ER500-C1 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 25% of all defects recorded against failed ER500-C1 tests.

What is the best year of ER500-C1 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2005-registered examples do best (88.5%) and 2002 worst (77.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ER500-C1 last?

The median ER500-C1 shows 15,217 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 69.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.