KAWASAKI GPZ550

553cc Petrol Class 2

#4289 of 5426 overall #523 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2655 of 2787 other bikes

75.1%

first-time pass rate

17.0%

failed outright

35,394

median miles at test

2,904

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The GPZ550's first-time pass rate has risen 27.3 points since 2005, 64.6% to 91.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GPZ550's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GPZ550 passes first time 82.0% of the time; by 50k that's 64.1%.

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 GPZ550

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	382	28.2	2.9×
brakes	344	25.4	1.9×
lighting and signalling	323	23.8	1.8×
tyres and wheels	73	5.4	1.1×
drive system	67	4.9	2.4×
fuel and exhaust	49	3.6	2.0×
lamps and reflectors	38	2.8	0.5×
body and structure	33	2.4	1.9×
reg plates and vin	30	2.2	1.6×
driving controls	17	1.3	2.3×

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 GPZ550 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 GPZ550.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1981 (85.6% pass). Weakest: 1984 (68.8%).

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 GPZ550 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI GPZ550 reliable?

The KAWASAKI GPZ550 is less reliable than average for its class: 75.1% of its 2,904 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4289 of 5426 models.

What does a GPZ550 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 28% of all defects recorded against failed GPZ550 tests.

What is the best year of GPZ550 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1981-registered examples do best (85.6%) and 1984 worst (68.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GPZ550 last?

The median GPZ550 shows 35,394 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 64.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.