KAWASAKI EX 650 CAF

649cc Petrol Class 2

#2230 of 5426 overall #253 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1380 of 2787 other bikes

85.9%

first-time pass rate

7.5%

failed outright

12,159

median miles at test

2,278

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2025

The EX 650 CAF's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.6 points since 2013, 88.1% to 81.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the EX 650 CAF's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage EX 650 CAF passes first time 93.0% of the time; by 40k that's 64.6%.

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 EX 650 CAF

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	58	20.4	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	46	16.1	0.9×
tyres and wheels	32	11.2	0.6×
tyres	30	10.5	1.7×
structure and attachments	28	9.8	1.5×
steering and suspension	23	8.1	0.3×
lighting and signalling	23	8.1	0.2×
suspension	22	7.7	1.1×
drive system	14	4.9	0.7×
fuel and exhaust	9	3.2	0.5×

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 EX 650 CAF 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 HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 EX 650 CAF.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (86.6% pass). Weakest: 2011 (84.4%).

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 EX 650 CAF FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI EX 650 CAF reliable?

The KAWASAKI EX 650 CAF is about average for its class: 85.9% of its 2,278 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2230 of 5426 models.

What does a EX 650 CAF fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 20% of all defects recorded against failed EX 650 CAF tests.

How many miles will a EX 650 CAF last?

The median EX 650 CAF shows 12,159 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 64.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.