KAWASAKI KL 600-B1

592cc Petrol Class 2

#4579 of 5426 overall #565 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2752 of 2787 other bikes

72.0%

first-time pass rate

15.7%

failed outright

30,452

median miles at test

268

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the KL 600-B1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage KL 600-B1 passes first time 81.6% of the time; by 40k that's 65.8%.

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 KL 600-B1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	29	29
lighting and signalling	25	25
brakes	23	23
tyres and wheels	7	7
reg plates and vin	4	4
drive system	4	4
lamps and reflectors	3	3
fuel and exhaust	3	3
wheels	1	1
driving controls	1	1

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-B1 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-B1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1985 (70.7% pass). Weakest: 1985 (70.7%).

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.