KAWASAKI KL600-B4

564cc Petrol Class 2

#3165 of 5426 overall #374 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2014 of 2787 other bikes

82.1%

first-time pass rate

7.9%

failed outright

25,504

median miles at test

291

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the KL600-B4's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage KL600-B4 passes first time 85.7% of the time; by 30k that's 86.1%.

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 KL600-B4

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	26	36.6
brakes	21	29.6
tyres and wheels	4	5.6
fuel and exhaust	4	5.6
lamps and reflectors	4	5.6
reg plates and vin	4	5.6
steering and suspension	4	5.6
drive system	2	2.8
Items Not Tested	1	1.4
tyres	1	1.4

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 KL600-B4 beats 3 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 KL600-B4.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1990 (84.0% pass). Weakest: 1988 (79.3%).

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.