KAWASAKI GPZ600R

592cc Petrol Class 2

#4616 of 5426 overall #566 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2762 of 2787 other bikes

71.4%

first-time pass rate

20.5%

failed outright

36,306

median miles at test

3,752

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The GPZ600R's first-time pass rate has risen 11.8 points since 2005, 73.0% to 84.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GPZ600R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GPZ600R passes first time 74.7% of the time; by 50k that's 69.8%.

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 GPZ600R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	636	29.4	2.4×
steering and suspension	536	24.8	3.2×
lighting and signalling	498	23	2.2×
drive system	133	6.1	3.7×
tyres and wheels	129	6	1.5×
fuel and exhaust	82	3.8	2.4×
reg plates and vin	57	2.6	2.0×
driving controls	35	1.6	3.9×
body and structure	31	1.4	1.5×
structure and attachments	28	1.3	0.7×

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 GPZ600R 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 GPZ600R.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1988 (75.9% pass). Weakest: 1990 (67.8%).

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 GPZ600R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI GPZ600R reliable?

The KAWASAKI GPZ600R is less reliable than average for its class: 71.4% of its 3,752 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4616 of 5426 models.

What does a GPZ600R fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 29% of all defects recorded against failed GPZ600R tests.

What is the best year of GPZ600R to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1988-registered examples do best (75.9%) and 1990 worst (67.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GPZ600R last?

The median GPZ600R shows 36,306 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 69.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.