KAWASAKI KZ1300

1300cc Petrol Class 2

#1506 of 5426 overall #184 of 592 KAWASAKIs #915 of 2787 other bikes

88.3%

first-time pass rate

5.8%

failed outright

21,083

median miles at test

206

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the KZ1300's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage KZ1300 passes first time 90.0% of the time; by 30k that's 95.1%.

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 KZ1300

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	13	36.1
brakes	10	27.8
steering and suspension	6	16.7
tyres and wheels	6	16.7
fuel and exhaust	1	2.8

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 KZ1300 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 KZ1300.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1980 (88.9% pass). Weakest: 1979 (87.6%).

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.