KAWASAKI EX500-A6

498cc Petrol Class 2

#4469 of 5426 overall #550 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2722 of 2787 other bikes

73.3%

first-time pass rate

19.3%

failed outright

26,620

median miles at test

1,307

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2021

The EX500-A6's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2005 (80.0% → 79.4%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the EX500-A6's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage EX500-A6 passes first time 85.5% of the time; by 50k that's 64.7%.

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-A6

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	192	31.1	3.6×
brakes	129	20.9	1.6×
lighting and signalling	97	15.7	1.4×
tyres and wheels	49	7.9	1.5×
drive system	42	6.8	3.2×
fuel and exhaust	31	5	2.7×
lamps and reflectors	26	4.2	0.8×
suspension	21	3.4	1.8×
structure and attachments	19	3.1	1.5×
steering	11	1.8	1.5×

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 EX500-A6 beats 0 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-A6.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1992 (77.6% pass). Weakest: 1994 (63.2%).

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 EX500-A6 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI EX500-A6 reliable?

The KAWASAKI EX500-A6 is less reliable than average for its class: 73.3% of its 1,307 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4469 of 5426 models.

What does a EX500-A6 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 31% of all defects recorded against failed EX500-A6 tests.

What is the best year of EX500-A6 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1992-registered examples do best (77.6%) and 1994 worst (63.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a EX500-A6 last?

The median EX500-A6 shows 26,620 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 64.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.