KAWASAKI Z440

443cc Petrol Class 2

#3399 of 5426 overall #402 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2170 of 2787 other bikes

80.9%

first-time pass rate

11.8%

failed outright

27,383

median miles at test

760

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2021

The Z440's first-time pass rate has risen 17.5 points since 2006, 79.7% to 97.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the Z440's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage Z440 passes first time 79.8% of the time; by 40k that's 76.9%.

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 Z440

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	54	24.1	1.5×
lighting and signalling	53	23.7	1.2×
brakes	37	16.5	1.0×
tyres and wheels	20	8.9	1.1×
drive system	18	8	2.6×
fuel and exhaust	14	6.2	2.1×
body and structure	10	4.5	2.5×
suspension	7	3.1	0.9×
lamps and reflectors	6	2.7	0.3×
structure and attachments	5	2.2	0.6×

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 Z440 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, YAMAHA XV535, SUZUKI GS500).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests YAMAHA XV535 82.7% pass · 48.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k 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 Z440.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1985 (85.3% pass). Weakest: 1982 (74.8%).

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 Z440 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI Z440 reliable?

The KAWASAKI Z440 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.9% of its 760 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3399 of 5426 models.

What does a Z440 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 24% of all defects recorded against failed Z440 tests.

What is the best year of Z440 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1985-registered examples do best (85.3%) and 1982 worst (74.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a Z440 last?

The median Z440 shows 27,383 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 76.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.