KAWASAKI KLE 500 B7F

498cc Petrol Class 2

#2909 of 5426 overall #344 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1836 of 2787 other bikes

83.2%

first-time pass rate

8.8%

failed outright

10,548

median miles at test

488

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2017

The KLE 500 B7F's first-time pass rate has fallen 8.9 points since 2011, 85.4% to 76.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the KLE 500 B7F's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage KLE 500 B7F passes first time 89.5% of the time; by 30k that's 66.7%.

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 KLE 500 B7F

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	35	43.2
lighting and signalling	16	19.8
lamps and reflectors	13	16
tyres and wheels	5	6.2
steering and suspension	4	4.9
reg plates and vin	3	3.7
structure and attachments	2	2.5
fuel and exhaust	1	1.2
suspension	1	1.2
drive system	1	1.2

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 KLE 500 B7F 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 KLE 500 B7F.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (85.4% pass). Weakest: 2007 (80.8%).

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.