BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KAWASAKI/ZEPHYR
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KAWASAKI ZEPHYR

738cc Petrol Class 2
#3532 of 5428 overall #419 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2247 of 2788 other bikes
80.2%
first-time pass rate
11.3%
failed outright
26,647
median miles at test
1,242
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-2.2pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2023

The ZEPHYR's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.5 points since 2006, 81.9% to 77.4%.

67%78%90%2006: 81.9% pass (105 tests)2007: 78.3% pass (92 tests)2008: 80.0% pass (90 tests)2009: 81.8% pass (88 tests)2010: 75.9% pass (79 tests)2011: 75.0% pass (84 tests)2012: 79.8% pass (84 tests)2013: 70.6% pass (68 tests)2014: 77.4% pass (84 tests)2015: 82.6% pass (69 tests)2016: 83.3% pass (66 tests)2017: 84.6% pass (52 tests)2018: 86.1% pass (36 tests)2019: 81.1% pass (37 tests)2021: 82.2% pass (45 tests)2022: 83.3% pass (36 tests)2023: 77.4% pass (31 tests)20062023

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage ZEPHYR passes first time 89.0% of the time; by 50k that's 83.8%.

72%82%92%0k: 89.0% pass (136 tests)10k: 83.2% pass (238 tests)20k: 79.6% pass (393 tests)30k: 74.8% pass (326 tests)40k: 78.9% pass (71 tests)50k: 83.8% pass (37 tests)0k30k50k

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 ZEPHYR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
87 29 1.3×
steering and suspension
59 19.7 1.3×
lighting and signalling
52 17.3 0.8×
tyres and wheels
28 9.3 1.0×
lamps and reflectors
17 5.7 0.6×
drive system
16 5.3 1.2×
fuel and exhaust
14 4.7 1.4×
driving controls
10 3.3 3.4×
reg plates and vin
9 3 1.0×
structure and attachments
8 2.7 0.8×

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 ZEPHYR beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 ZEPHYR.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Zephyr

More KAWASAKI models

other KAWASAKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests
KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k tests
KAWASAKI ZZR600 79.0% pass · 53.7k tests
KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests
KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100 80.8% pass · 39.7k tests
KAWASAKI ZX 89.4% pass · 34.6k tests

See all KAWASAKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1996 (87.1%). Lowest: 1991 (78.8%). Every Zephyr year compared →

77%83%89%1991: 78.8% pass (240 tests)1992: 80.5% pass (437 tests)1994: 83.2% pass (107 tests)1995: 81.1% pass (148 tests)1996: 87.1% pass (124 tests)199119941996

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 ZEPHYR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZEPHYR reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZEPHYR is less reliable than average for its class: 80.2% of its 1,242 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3532 of 5428 models.

What does a ZEPHYR fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 29% of all defects recorded against failed ZEPHYR tests.

What is the best year of ZEPHYR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1996-registered examples do best (87.1%) and 1991 worst (78.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZEPHYR last?

The median ZEPHYR shows 26,647 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 83.8% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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