KAWASAKI KX
Pass rate over time
The KX's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.3 points since 2018, 88.4% to 85.1%.
What fails on a KX
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| brakes |
|
41 | 16.3 | 0.7× |
| suspension |
|
37 | 14.7 | 3.7× |
| tyres |
|
36 | 14.3 | 3.7× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
28 | 11.1 | 1.0× |
| audible warning (Horn) |
|
20 | 7.9 | 11.9× |
| wheels |
|
19 | 7.5 | 25.3× |
| lighting and signalling |
|
18 | 7.1 | 0.2× |
| steering and suspension |
|
18 | 7.1 | 0.4× |
| structure and attachments |
|
18 | 7.1 | 2.1× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
17 | 6.7 | 7.5× |
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
On first-time pass rate the KX beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).
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 KX.
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2021 (96.0% pass). Weakest: 2019 (80.4%).
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 KX FAQ
Is the KAWASAKI KX reliable?
The KAWASAKI KX is about average for its class: 85.8% of its 921 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2264 of 5426 models.
What does a KX fail its MOT on most?
brakes — 16% of all defects recorded against failed KX tests.