KAWASAKI KLE500

498cc Petrol Class 2

#3577 of 5426 overall #424 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2275 of 2787 other bikes

80.0%

first-time pass rate

11.4%

failed outright

17,644

median miles at test

7,517

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The KLE500's first-time pass rate has risen 10.1 points since 2005, 76.7% to 86.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the KLE500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage KLE500 passes first time 87.3% of the time; by 50k that's 65.0%.

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 KLE500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	597	32.7	1.4×
lighting and signalling	392	21.4	0.9×
steering and suspension	190	10.4	0.7×
drive system	154	8.4	2.0×
lamps and reflectors	142	7.8	0.8×
tyres and wheels	134	7.3	0.8×
fuel and exhaust	67	3.7	1.0×
structure and attachments	61	3.3	0.9×
body and structure	52	2.8	1.2×
reg plates and vin	39	2.1	0.8×

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 KLE500 beats 2 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 KLE500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2000 (87.9% pass). Weakest: 1997 (73.2%).

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 KLE500 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI KLE500 reliable?

The KAWASAKI KLE500 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.0% of its 7,517 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3577 of 5426 models.

What does a KLE500 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 33% of all defects recorded against failed KLE500 tests.

What is the best year of KLE500 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2000-registered examples do best (87.9%) and 1997 worst (73.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a KLE500 last?

The median KLE500 shows 17,644 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 65.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.