KAWASAKI GPZ1000

997cc Petrol Class 2

#4095 of 5426 overall #494 of 592 KAWASAKIs #185 of 205 naked bikes

76.7%

first-time pass rate

15.9%

failed outright

35,126

median miles at test

3,048

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The GPZ1000's first-time pass rate has risen 22.6 points since 2005, 70.4% to 93.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GPZ1000's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GPZ1000 passes first time 74.0% of the time; by 50k that's 73.2%.

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 GPZ1000

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	359	29.4	1.9×
steering and suspension	279	22.8	2.2×
lighting and signalling	273	22.3	1.5×
tyres and wheels	67	5.5	1.0×
fuel and exhaust	58	4.7	2.2×
reg plates and vin	53	4.3	2.2×
drive system	45	3.7	1.7×
lamps and reflectors	35	2.9	0.4×
body and structure	30	2.5	1.6×
driving controls	23	1.9	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 GPZ1000 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE, APRILIA TUONO, HONDA CB1300).

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 85.6% pass · 74.6k tests APRILIA TUONO 88.4% pass · 34.7k tests HONDA CB1300 89.3% pass · 25.9k tests TRIUMPH TRIDENT 85.0% pass · 23.9k 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 GPZ1000.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1988 (81.3% pass). Weakest: 1985 (71.2%).

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 GPZ1000 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI GPZ1000 reliable?

The KAWASAKI GPZ1000 is less reliable than average for its class: 76.7% of its 3,048 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4095 of 5426 models.

What does a GPZ1000 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 29% of all defects recorded against failed GPZ1000 tests.

What is the best year of GPZ1000 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1988-registered examples do best (81.3%) and 1985 worst (71.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GPZ1000 last?

The median GPZ1000 shows 35,126 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 73.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.