KAWASAKI EX500-A3

498cc Petrol Class 2

#3647 of 5426 overall #435 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2324 of 2787 other bikes

79.7%

first-time pass rate

13.4%

failed outright

31,524

median miles at test

246

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the EX500-A3's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage EX500-A3 passes first time 87.1% of the time; by 40k that's 76.4%.

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 EX500-A3

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	29	31.5
lighting and signalling	22	23.9
brakes	19	20.7
drive system	8	8.7
tyres and wheels	6	6.5
fuel and exhaust	4	4.3
Identification of the vehicle	1	1.1
reg plates and vin	1	1.1
body and structure	1	1.1
structure and attachments	1	1.1

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 EX500-A3 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 EX500-A3.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1990 (78.7% pass). Weakest: 1990 (78.7%).

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.