KAWASAKI GPZ

500cc Petrol Class 2

#4387 of 5426 overall #539 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2697 of 2787 other bikes

74.1%

first-time pass rate

18.2%

failed outright

27,727

median miles at test

2,509

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2024

The GPZ's first-time pass rate has risen 10.6 points since 2005, 68.2% to 78.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage GPZ passes first time 82.0% of the time; by 50k that's 71.2%.

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 GPZ

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	269	25	1.8×
steering and suspension	267	24.8	2.5×
lighting and signalling	231	21.5	1.6×
tyres and wheels	84	7.8	1.4×
drive system	76	7.1	3.4×
fuel and exhaust	49	4.6	2.4×
lamps and reflectors	40	3.7	0.7×
suspension	23	2.1	0.9×
structure and attachments	18	1.7	0.8×
driving controls	18	1.7	3.1×

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 GPZ 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 GPZ.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2002 (88.2% pass). Weakest: 1989 (59.8%).

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 GPZ FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI GPZ reliable?

The KAWASAKI GPZ is less reliable than average for its class: 74.1% of its 2,509 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4387 of 5426 models.

What does a GPZ fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 25% of all defects recorded against failed GPZ tests.

What is the best year of GPZ to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2002-registered examples do best (88.2%) and 1989 worst (59.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GPZ last?

The median GPZ shows 27,727 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 71.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.