KAWASAKI H1

499cc Petrol Class 2

#2146 of 5426 overall #246 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1324 of 2787 other bikes

86.2%

first-time pass rate

3.2%

failed outright

11,062

median miles at test

501

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2017

The H1's first-time pass rate has risen 15.2 points since 2011, 68.4% to 83.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the H1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage H1 passes first time 88.9% of the time; by 20k that's 82.7%.

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 H1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	12	37.5	0.5×
lighting and signalling	5	15.6	0.2×
brakes	4	12.5	0.2×
fuel and exhaust	3	9.4	0.8×
body and structure	2	6.2	0.4×
drive system	2	6.2	0.6×
tyres and wheels	2	6.2	0.2×
Performance	1	3.1	49.9×
reg plates and vin	1	3.1	0.3×

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 H1 beats 4 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 H1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1971 (97.3% pass). Weakest: 1972 (65.0%).

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 H1 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI H1 reliable?

The KAWASAKI H1 is about average for its class: 86.2% of its 501 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2146 of 5426 models.

What does a H1 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 38% of all defects recorded against failed H1 tests.

What is the best year of H1 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1971-registered examples do best (97.3%) and 1972 worst (65.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a H1 last?

The median H1 shows 11,062 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 82.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.