BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KAWASAKI/KMX
Model report · 2005–2025

KAWASAKI KMX

124cc Petrol Class 1
#5079 of 5428 overall #589 of 592 KAWASAKIs #551 of 734 commuter bikes
63.6%
first-time pass rate
25.1%
failed outright
17,351
median miles at test
338
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-11.6pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate by mileage

how the KMX's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage KMX passes first time 62.5% of the time; by 20k that's 63.0%.

62%63%64%0k: 62.5% pass (64 tests)10k: 63.4% pass (131 tests)20k: 63.0% pass (92 tests)0k10k20k

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 KMX

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
lighting and signalling
145 36.9
steering and suspension
63 16
brakes
54 13.7
tyres and wheels
44 11.2
drive system
34 8.7
fuel and exhaust
17 4.3
reg plates and vin
14 3.6
body and structure
9 2.3
structure and attachments
7 1.8
lamps and reflectors
6 1.5

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 KMX beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YBR 125, HONDA CG125, HONDA CBF125).

YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CG125 72.2% pass · 89.3k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CBF125 73.3% pass · 84.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
GILERA RUNNER 70.8% pass · 69.9k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 KMX.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the KMX

More KAWASAKI models

other KAWASAKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests
KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k tests
KAWASAKI ZZR600 79.0% pass · 53.7k tests
KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests
KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100 80.8% pass · 39.7k tests
KAWASAKI ZX 89.4% pass · 34.6k tests

See all KAWASAKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1989 (69.0% pass). Weakest: 1989 (69.0%).

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.

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live Kawasaki KMX reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.