Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Kawasaki Z550: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which Z550 years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 76.8% average, from 1,796 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 1985 (87.1% of 70 tests). Lowest: 1980 (71.4% of 196). Years more than two points below the model average: 1980.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (76.8%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 196 | 71.4% | -5.4 pp |
| 1981 | 251 | 80.9% | +4.1 pp |
| 1982 | 444 | 75.0% | -1.8 pp |
| 1983 | 287 | 80.1% | +3.3 pp |
| 1984 | 189 | 75.1% | -1.7 pp |
| 1985 | 70 | 87.1% | +10.3 pp |
| 1986 | 116 | 79.3% | +2.5 pp |
Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years. A first-time MOT pass is a roadworthiness check, not a full mechanical inspection.
Pass rate over time
Questions
- Which Z550 years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 1980 registered examples pass first time less often than the Kawasaki Z550 overall (76.8%); the 1980 cohort is lowest at 71.4% from 196 tests.
- Which Z550 year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 1985, at 87.1% of 70 first tests (2005–2025). Years more than two points above the model average: 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986.
- How much does the Z550 pass rate vary by year?
- 15.7 percentage points between the highest (1985, 87.1%) and lowest (1980, 71.4%) cohorts with at least 50 tests. Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
Full report: Kawasaki Z550 reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #4087 of 5428 models· other Kawasaki models: ZX-6R, ZX-9R, ZZR600, ER5, ZZ-R1100, ZX