KAWASAKI EX650

649cc Petrol Class 2

#2689 of 5426 overall #313 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1692 of 2787 other bikes

84.2%

first-time pass rate

9.6%

failed outright

11,577

median miles at test

1,425

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2010–2025

The EX650's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2010 (87.2% → 87.7%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the EX650's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage EX650 passes first time 89.7% of the time; by 40k that's 77.4%.

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 EX650

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	50	18	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	46	16.5	1.6×
lighting and signalling	36	12.9	0.5×
tyres and wheels	30	10.8	0.8×
tyres	26	9.4	2.1×
drive system	24	8.6	1.7×
steering and suspension	23	8.3	0.4×
suspension	17	6.1	1.4×
structure and attachments	16	5.8	1.5×
steering	10	3.6	1.3×

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 EX650 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 EX650.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (85.6% pass). Weakest: 2006 (82.9%).

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 EX650 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI EX650 reliable?

The KAWASAKI EX650 is about average for its class: 84.2% of its 1,425 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2689 of 5426 models.

What does a EX650 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 18% of all defects recorded against failed EX650 tests.

What is the best year of EX650 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (85.6%) and 2006 worst (82.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a EX650 last?

The median EX650 shows 11,577 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 77.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.