KAWASAKI GT550

553cc Petrol Class 2

#4044 of 5426 overall #484 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2555 of 2787 other bikes

77.1%

first-time pass rate

14.2%

failed outright

35,097

median miles at test

11.5k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The GT550's first-time pass rate has risen 5.9 points since 2005, 74.5% to 80.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GT550's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GT550 passes first time 82.4% of the time; by 50k that's 73.4%.

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 GT550

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	1,120	29	1.6×
lighting and signalling	907	23.5	1.3×
steering and suspension	777	20.1	1.6×
tyres and wheels	276	7.2	1.1×
fuel and exhaust	210	5.4	2.3×
lamps and reflectors	157	4.1	0.5×
body and structure	137	3.6	2.2×
reg plates and vin	116	3	1.6×
driving controls	86	2.2	3.0×
suspension	73	1.9	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 GT550 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 GT550.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1995 (81.0% pass). Weakest: 1991 (74.5%).

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 GT550 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI GT550 reliable?

The KAWASAKI GT550 is less reliable than average for its class: 77.1% of its 11,459 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4044 of 5426 models.

What does a GT550 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 29% of all defects recorded against failed GT550 tests.

What is the best year of GT550 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1995-registered examples do best (81.0%) and 1991 worst (74.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GT550 last?

The median GT550 shows 35,097 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 73.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.