KAWASAKI KLR600

564cc Petrol Class 2

#4134 of 5426 overall #500 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2592 of 2787 other bikes

76.4%

first-time pass rate

12.1%

failed outright

26,902

median miles at test

1,016

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2022

The KLR600's first-time pass rate has risen 9.0 points since 2006, 75.8% to 84.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the KLR600's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage KLR600 passes first time 73.0% of the time; by 50k that's 73.8%.

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 KLR600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	113	31.7	1.4×
brakes	67	18.8	1.2×
steering and suspension	53	14.8	1.1×
drive system	27	7.6	2.2×
tyres and wheels	26	7.3	1.0×
reg plates and vin	23	6.4	3.1×
body and structure	15	4.2	2.1×
lamps and reflectors	14	3.9	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	13	3.6	1.7×
structure and attachments	6	1.7	0.4×

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 KLR600 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 KLR600.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1990 (81.5% pass). Weakest: 1989 (72.3%).

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.

KAWASAKI KLR600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI KLR600 reliable?

The KAWASAKI KLR600 is less reliable than average for its class: 76.4% of its 1,016 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4134 of 5426 models.

What does a KLR600 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 32% of all defects recorded against failed KLR600 tests.

What is the best year of KLR600 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1990-registered examples do best (81.5%) and 1989 worst (72.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a KLR600 last?

The median KLR600 shows 26,902 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 73.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.