KAWASAKI KH400

400cc Petrol Class 2

#1818 of 5426 overall #213 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1101 of 2787 other bikes

87.3%

first-time pass rate

5.7%

failed outright

15,875

median miles at test

1,098

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2018

The KH400's first-time pass rate has risen 8.6 points since 2006, 81.8% to 90.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the KH400's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage KH400 passes first time 89.4% of the time; by 40k that's 90.0%.

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 KH400

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	59	41.5	0.8×
brakes	28	19.7	0.5×
steering and suspension	20	14.1	0.4×
tyres and wheels	13	9.2	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	7	4.9	0.8×
drive system	6	4.2	0.8×
reg plates and vin	4	2.8	0.5×
driving controls	2	1.4	0.8×
steering	2	1.4	0.4×
Items Not Tested	1	0.7	1.0×

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 KH400 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 KH400.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1980 (92.3% pass). Weakest: 1974 (83.0%).

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 KH400 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI KH400 reliable?

The KAWASAKI KH400 is more reliable than average for its class: 87.3% of its 1,098 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1818 of 5426 models.

What does a KH400 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 42% of all defects recorded against failed KH400 tests.

What is the best year of KH400 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1980-registered examples do best (92.3%) and 1974 worst (83.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a KH400 last?

The median KH400 shows 15,875 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 90.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.