KAWASAKI Z500

498cc Petrol Class 2

#4224 of 5426 overall #516 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2625 of 2787 other bikes

75.7%

first-time pass rate

16.5%

failed outright

34,359

median miles at test

206

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the Z500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage Z500 passes first time 60.0% of the time; by 40k that's 78.3%.

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 Z500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	33	32
steering and suspension	33	32
brakes	13	12.6
drive system	8	7.8
tyres and wheels	7	6.8
reg plates and vin	3	2.9
lamps and reflectors	2	1.9
suspension	2	1.9
fuel and exhaust	1	1
structure and attachments	1	1

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 Z500 beats 0 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 Z500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1979 (77.1% pass). Weakest: 1980 (73.1%).

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.