KAWASAKI GPZ305

306cc Petrol Class 2

#4321 of 5426 overall #527 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2667 of 2787 other bikes

74.8%

first-time pass rate

18.1%

failed outright

21,689

median miles at test

1,478

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2017

The GPZ305's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.7 points since 2005, 79.7% to 70.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GPZ305's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GPZ305 passes first time 87.8% of the time; by 40k that's 73.9%.

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 GPZ305

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	195	31.2	3.0×
brakes	159	25.5	1.8×
lighting and signalling	131	21	1.5×
tyres and wheels	47	7.5	1.5×
fuel and exhaust	26	4.2	2.1×
lamps and reflectors	16	2.6	0.5×
structure and attachments	14	2.2	0.7×
driving controls	14	2.2	4.0×
drive system	13	2.1	0.9×
reg plates and vin	9	1.4	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 GPZ305 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (SUZUKI AN400, YAMAHA RD350, YAMAHA YP250).

SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests YAMAHA RD350 86.3% pass · 19.6k tests YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k 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 GPZ305.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1996 (79.9% pass). Weakest: 1987 (67.9%).

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 GPZ305 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI GPZ305 reliable?

The KAWASAKI GPZ305 is less reliable than average for its class: 74.8% of its 1,478 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4321 of 5426 models.

What does a GPZ305 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 31% of all defects recorded against failed GPZ305 tests.

What is the best year of GPZ305 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1996-registered examples do best (79.9%) and 1987 worst (67.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GPZ305 last?

The median GPZ305 shows 21,689 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 73.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.