KAWASAKI KH500

498cc Petrol Class 2

#1478 of 5426 overall #182 of 592 KAWASAKIs #898 of 2787 other bikes

88.4%

first-time pass rate

5.2%

failed outright

14,719

median miles at test

834

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The KH500's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.6 points since 2006, 90.7% to 86.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the KH500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage KH500 passes first time 88.3% of the time; by 30k that's 88.9%.

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 KH500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	25	26	0.5×
brakes	22	22.9	0.5×
steering and suspension	14	14.6	0.5×
drive system	10	10.4	1.3×
body and structure	9	9.4	1.2×
tyres and wheels	6	6.2	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	3	3.1	0.2×
reg plates and vin	3	3.1	0.6×
driving controls	2	2.1	1.0×
fuel and exhaust	2	2.1	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 KH500 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 KH500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1974 (92.0% pass). Weakest: 1976 (85.5%).

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 KH500 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI KH500 reliable?

The KAWASAKI KH500 is more reliable than average for its class: 88.4% of its 834 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1478 of 5426 models.

What does a KH500 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 26% of all defects recorded against failed KH500 tests.

What is the best year of KH500 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1974-registered examples do best (92.0%) and 1976 worst (85.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a KH500 last?

The median KH500 shows 14,719 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 88.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.