BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KAWASAKI/KZ1000
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KAWASAKI KZ1000

1000cc Petrol Class 2
#2091 of 5428 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
+2.7pp
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 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%.

75%86%98%2006: 80.9% pass (68 tests)2007: 90.0% pass (50 tests)2008: 78.7% pass (61 tests)2009: 83.8% pass (68 tests)2010: 89.8% pass (59 tests)2011: 85.1% pass (67 tests)2012: 87.7% pass (65 tests)2013: 87.5% pass (72 tests)2014: 83.8% pass (68 tests)2015: 80.6% pass (72 tests)2016: 82.7% pass (75 tests)2017: 92.0% pass (75 tests)2018: 91.7% pass (48 tests)2019: 94.1% pass (34 tests)20062019

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%.

80%86%92%0k: 87.0% pass (131 tests)10k: 90.4% pass (156 tests)20k: 88.1% pass (244 tests)30k: 86.3% pass (160 tests)40k: 83.6% pass (110 tests)50k: 81.6% pass (49 tests)0k30k50k

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 Share of defects 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 Compare head-to-head →
APRILIA TUONO 88.4% pass · 34.7k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CB1300 89.3% pass · 25.9k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH TRIDENT 85.0% pass · 23.9k 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 KZ1000.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the KZ1000

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

Highest pass rate: 1979 (89.6%). Lowest: 1980 (81.4%). Every KZ1000 year compared →

80%86%91%1977: 89.2% pass (195 tests)1978: 85.2% pass (250 tests)1979: 89.6% pass (96 tests)1980: 81.4% pass (86 tests)197719791980

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 #2091 of 5428 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, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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