KAWASAKI Z550A

553cc Petrol Class 2

#4230 of 5426 overall #518 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2628 of 2787 other bikes

75.6%

first-time pass rate

16.3%

failed outright

28,797

median miles at test

320

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2007

The Z550A's first-time pass rate has risen 11.7 points since 2006, 62.5% to 74.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the Z550A's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage Z550A passes first time 86.5% of the time; by 50k that's 62.2%.

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 Z550A

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	45	28.1
lighting and signalling	41	25.6
brakes	34	21.2
drive system	11	6.9
fuel and exhaust	7	4.4
tyres and wheels	6	3.8
reg plates and vin	6	3.8
lamps and reflectors	5	3.1
body and structure	5	3.1

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 Z550A 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 Z550A.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1982 (77.4% pass). Weakest: 1983 (74.0%).

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.