KAWASAKI Z1000

953cc Petrol Class 2

#2611 of 5426 overall #301 of 592 KAWASAKIs #121 of 205 naked bikes

84.5%

first-time pass rate

7.5%

failed outright

17,154

median miles at test

22.7k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The Z1000's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2005 (84.9% → 85.9%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the Z1000's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage Z1000 passes first time 87.2% of the time; by 50k that's 83.7%.

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 Z1000

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	1,058	29.7	0.7×
brakes	709	19.9	0.5×
steering and suspension	447	12.6	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	389	10.9	0.7×
tyres and wheels	306	8.6	0.6×
reg plates and vin	256	7.2	1.5×
structure and attachments	105	3	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	104	2.9	0.5×
tyres	93	2.6	0.5×
drive system	91	2.6	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 Z1000 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE, TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE, APRILIA TUONO).

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE 85.6% pass · 74.6k tests TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE 87.7% pass · 37.7k tests APRILIA TUONO 88.4% pass · 34.7k tests TRIUMPH TRIDENT 85.0% pass · 23.9k 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 Z1000.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2015 (90.9% pass). Weakest: 1984 (78.6%).

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.

KAWASAKI Z1000 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI Z1000 reliable?

The KAWASAKI Z1000 is about average for its class: 84.5% of its 22,743 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2611 of 5426 models.

What does a Z1000 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 30% of all defects recorded against failed Z1000 tests.

What is the best year of Z1000 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2015-registered examples do best (90.9%) and 1984 worst (78.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a Z1000 last?

The median Z1000 shows 17,154 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 83.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.