KAWASAKI S2

349cc Petrol Class 2

#1369 of 5426 overall #170 of 592 KAWASAKIs #838 of 2787 other bikes

88.7%

first-time pass rate

4.3%

failed outright

9,685

median miles at test

230

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2015–2017

The S2's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.2 points since 2015, 93.9% to 86.7%.

What fails on a S2

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	10	43.5
lighting and signalling	4	17.4
lamps and reflectors	3	13
reg plates and vin	1	4.3
suspension	1	4.3
brakes	1	4.3
tyres and wheels	1	4.3
drive system	1	4.3
fuel and exhaust	1	4.3

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 S2 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (SUZUKI AN400, SUZUKI DR-Z400S, YAMAHA RD350).

SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k tests YAMAHA RD350 86.3% pass · 19.6k tests KAWASAKI ZXR400 73.1% pass · 14.2k 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 S2.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1971 (100.0% pass). Weakest: 1972 (85.3%).

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.