BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KAWASAKI/GPX750R
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KAWASAKI GPX750R

748cc Petrol Class 2
#4371 of 5428 overall #537 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2689 of 2788 other bikes
74.3%
first-time pass rate
18.2%
failed outright
36,600
median miles at test
3,219
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-6.8pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

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

The GPX750R's first-time pass rate has risen 12.2 points since 2005, 70.8% to 83.0%.

63%81%99%2005: 70.8% pass (72 tests)2006: 70.5% pass (407 tests)2007: 74.1% pass (348 tests)2008: 70.2% pass (302 tests)2009: 68.7% pass (278 tests)2010: 69.6% pass (250 tests)2011: 74.4% pass (227 tests)2012: 78.1% pass (187 tests)2013: 68.9% pass (180 tests)2014: 72.5% pass (153 tests)2015: 71.9% pass (128 tests)2016: 81.8% pass (110 tests)2017: 77.9% pass (95 tests)2018: 80.6% pass (72 tests)2019: 80.3% pass (66 tests)2020: 83.0% pass (53 tests)2021: 87.0% pass (69 tests)2022: 89.9% pass (69 tests)2023: 90.2% pass (61 tests)2024: 93.3% pass (45 tests)2025: 83.0% pass (47 tests)20052025

Pass rate by mileage

how the GPX750R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GPX750R passes first time 74.7% of the time; by 50k that's 71.2%.

69%77%85%0k: 74.7% pass (182 tests)10k: 83.0% pass (271 tests)20k: 78.2% pass (578 tests)30k: 73.7% pass (835 tests)40k: 73.2% pass (827 tests)50k: 71.2% pass (323 tests)0k30k50k

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 GPX750R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
495 32.3 2.4×
steering and suspension
352 23 2.6×
lighting and signalling
310 20.2 1.7×
drive system
97 6.3 3.5×
tyres and wheels
90 5.9 1.3×
fuel and exhaust
59 3.9 2.2×
reg plates and vin
46 3 2.1×
driving controls
32 2.1 4.2×
body and structure
26 1.7 1.4×
lamps and reflectors
24 1.6 0.4×

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 GPX750R beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 GPX750R.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the GPX750R

More KAWASAKI models

other KAWASAKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests
KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k tests
KAWASAKI ZZR600 79.0% pass · 53.7k tests
KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests
KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100 80.8% pass · 39.7k tests
KAWASAKI ZX 89.4% pass · 34.6k tests

See all KAWASAKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1990 (79.7%). Lowest: 1986 (66.7%). Every GPX750R year compared →

64%73%82%1986: 66.7% pass (105 tests)1987: 74.2% pass (1,252 tests)1988: 72.1% pass (910 tests)1989: 73.7% pass (514 tests)1990: 79.7% pass (202 tests)1991: 78.7% pass (155 tests)198619891991

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 GPX750R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI GPX750R reliable?

The KAWASAKI GPX750R is less reliable than average for its class: 74.3% of its 3,219 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4371 of 5428 models.

What does a GPX750R fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 32% of all defects recorded against failed GPX750R tests.

What is the best year of GPX750R to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1990-registered examples do best (79.7%) and 1986 worst (66.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GPX750R last?

The median GPX750R shows 36,600 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 71.2% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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