KAWASAKI KZ650

650cc Petrol Class 2

#3440 of 5426 overall #407 of 592 KAWASAKIs #163 of 205 naked bikes

80.7%

first-time pass rate

10.9%

failed outright

26,837

median miles at test

725

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The KZ650's first-time pass rate has risen 3.7 points since 2006, 85.2% to 88.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the KZ650's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage KZ650 passes first time 80.2% of the time; by 40k that's 63.2%.

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 KZ650

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	78	40.2	1.5×
brakes	36	18.6	0.9×
steering and suspension	28	14.4	1.0×
tyres and wheels	13	6.7	0.8×
lamps and reflectors	8	4.1	0.4×
drive system	8	4.1	1.3×
fuel and exhaust	7	3.6	1.3×
driving controls	7	3.6	3.5×
body and structure	6	3.1	1.4×
tyres	3	1.5	0.4×

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 KZ650 beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (HONDA CB500, TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE, HONDA CB600 HORNET).

HONDA CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE 87.7% pass · 37.7k tests HONDA CB600 HORNET 78.6% pass · 26.4k tests TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE R 87.7% pass · 20.6k 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 KZ650.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1979 (82.0% pass). Weakest: 1980 (75.4%).

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 KZ650 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI KZ650 reliable?

The KAWASAKI KZ650 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.7% of its 725 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3440 of 5426 models.

What does a KZ650 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 40% of all defects recorded against failed KZ650 tests.

What is the best year of KZ650 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1979-registered examples do best (82.0%) and 1980 worst (75.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a KZ650 last?

The median KZ650 shows 26,837 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 63.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.