KAWASAKI GPZ500

498cc Petrol Class 2

#4370 of 5426 overall #537 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2690 of 2787 other bikes

74.3%

first-time pass rate

18.3%

failed outright

25,794

median miles at test

2,484

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The GPZ500's first-time pass rate has risen 4.0 points since 2005, 80.4% to 84.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GPZ500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GPZ500 passes first time 86.3% of the time; by 50k that's 62.5%.

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 GPZ500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	310	28.4	2.8×
brakes	275	25.2	2.0×
lighting and signalling	179	16.4	1.3×
drive system	89	8.1	3.7×
tyres and wheels	88	8.1	1.6×
fuel and exhaust	68	6.2	3.1×
driving controls	33	3	5.3×
suspension	23	2.1	1.0×
structure and attachments	15	1.4	0.6×
reg plates and vin	13	1.2	0.6×

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 GPZ500 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 GPZ500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1994 (79.8% pass). Weakest: 1998 (59.0%).

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 GPZ500 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI GPZ500 reliable?

The KAWASAKI GPZ500 is less reliable than average for its class: 74.3% of its 2,484 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4370 of 5426 models.

What does a GPZ500 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 28% of all defects recorded against failed GPZ500 tests.

What is the best year of GPZ500 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1994-registered examples do best (79.8%) and 1998 worst (59.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GPZ500 last?

The median GPZ500 shows 25,794 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 62.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.