KAWASAKI KL 600-A1

564cc Petrol Class 2

75.0%

first-time pass rate

13.0%

failed outright

21,497

median miles at test

108

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a KL 600-A1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	10	20.8
reg plates and vin	8	16.7
steering and suspension	6	12.5
tyres and wheels	5	10.4
brakes	5	10.4
drive system	4	8.3
fuel and exhaust	4	8.3
body and structure	2	4.2
lamps and reflectors	2	4.2
suspension	2	4.2

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the KL 600-A1 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 KL 600-A1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1984 (74.6% pass). Weakest: 1984 (74.6%).

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.