KAWASAKI KZ1000

1000cc Petrol Class 2

#2089 of 5426 overall #237 of 592 KAWASAKIs #93 of 205 naked bikes

86.4%

first-time pass rate

6.3%

failed outright

27,754

median miles at test

985

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2019

The KZ1000's first-time pass rate has risen 13.2 points since 2006, 80.9% to 94.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the KZ1000's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage KZ1000 passes first time 87.0% of the time; by 50k that's 81.6%.

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 KZ1000

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	35	28.5	0.6×
brakes	35	28.5	0.5×
steering and suspension	16	13	0.5×
tyres and wheels	10	8.1	0.5×
reg plates and vin	8	6.5	1.1×
fuel and exhaust	6	4.9	0.8×
lamps and reflectors	5	4.1	0.3×
body and structure	4	3.3	0.8×
audible warning (Horn)	2	1.6	1.1×
driving controls	2	1.6	0.9×

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 KZ1000 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE, APRILIA TUONO, HONDA CB1300).

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 85.6% pass · 74.6k tests APRILIA TUONO 88.4% pass · 34.7k tests HONDA CB1300 89.3% pass · 25.9k tests TRIUMPH TRIDENT 85.0% pass · 23.9k 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 KZ1000.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1979 (89.6% pass). Weakest: 1980 (81.4%).

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 KZ1000 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI KZ1000 reliable?

The KAWASAKI KZ1000 is about average for its class: 86.4% of its 985 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2089 of 5426 models.

What does a KZ1000 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 28% of all defects recorded against failed KZ1000 tests.

What is the best year of KZ1000 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1979-registered examples do best (89.6%) and 1980 worst (81.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a KZ1000 last?

The median KZ1000 shows 27,754 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 81.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.