KAWASAKI KZ550

550cc Petrol Class 2

81.1%

first-time pass rate

11.2%

failed outright

28,379

median miles at test

169

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the KZ550's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage KZ550 passes first time 83.7% of the time; by 30k that's 71.1%.

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 KZ550

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	25	40.3
steering and suspension	10	16.1
brakes	9	14.5
drive system	5	8.1
fuel and exhaust	4	6.5
reg plates and vin	3	4.8
driving controls	2	3.2
body and structure	2	3.2
tyres and wheels	1	1.6
Items Not Tested	1	1.6

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 KZ550 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k 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 KZ550.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1981 (79.4% pass). Weakest: 1981 (79.4%).

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.