KAWASAKI EX500-D3

498cc Petrol Class 2

#4012 of 5426 overall #479 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2539 of 2787 other bikes

77.3%

first-time pass rate

16.8%

failed outright

22,058

median miles at test

2,406

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2023

The EX500-D3's first-time pass rate has risen 7.6 points since 2005, 77.8% to 85.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the EX500-D3's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage EX500-D3 passes first time 85.4% of the time; by 50k that's 72.4%.

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-D3

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	305	30.7	2.7×
brakes	247	24.8	1.7×
lighting and signalling	133	13.4	1.0×
tyres and wheels	105	10.6	1.8×
drive system	103	10.4	4.0×
fuel and exhaust	53	5.3	2.6×
driving controls	16	1.6	2.7×
body and structure	12	1.2	0.9×
suspension	11	1.1	0.6×
Items Not Tested	10	1	4.1×

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-D3 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-D3.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (80.0% pass). Weakest: 1997 (76.6%).

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.

KAWASAKI EX500-D3 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI EX500-D3 reliable?

The KAWASAKI EX500-D3 is less reliable than average for its class: 77.3% of its 2,406 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4012 of 5426 models.

What does a EX500-D3 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 31% of all defects recorded against failed EX500-D3 tests.

What is the best year of EX500-D3 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (80.0%) and 1997 worst (76.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a EX500-D3 last?

The median EX500-D3 shows 22,058 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 72.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.