KAWASAKI EX500-D7

498cc Petrol Class 2

#3816 of 5426 overall #453 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2422 of 2787 other bikes

78.7%

first-time pass rate

15.3%

failed outright

16,757

median miles at test

3,960

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The EX500-D7's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.7 points since 2005, 79.4% to 75.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the EX500-D7's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage EX500-D7 passes first time 88.4% of the time; by 50k that's 63.9%.

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-D7

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	369	26.3	1.5×
steering and suspension	341	24.3	2.0×
lighting and signalling	200	14.3	1.0×
drive system	140	10	3.5×
tyres and wheels	140	10	1.6×
fuel and exhaust	61	4.4	1.9×
structure and attachments	48	3.4	1.4×
lamps and reflectors	46	3.3	0.6×
driving controls	28	2	2.8×
suspension	28	2	0.8×

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-D7 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-D7.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (81.8% pass). Weakest: 2000 (76.9%).

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-D7 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI EX500-D7 reliable?

The KAWASAKI EX500-D7 is less reliable than average for its class: 78.7% of its 3,960 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3816 of 5426 models.

What does a EX500-D7 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed EX500-D7 tests.

What is the best year of EX500-D7 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (81.8%) and 2000 worst (76.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a EX500-D7 last?

The median EX500-D7 shows 16,757 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 63.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.