KAWASAKI ZEPHYR 1100

1062cc Petrol Class 2

#2960 of 5426 overall #351 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1873 of 2787 other bikes

83.0%

first-time pass rate

10.7%

failed outright

23,566

median miles at test

5,141

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The ZEPHYR 1100's first-time pass rate has risen 6.5 points since 2005, 82.0% to 88.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZEPHYR 1100's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZEPHYR 1100 passes first time 85.0% of the time; by 50k that's 75.2%.

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 ZEPHYR 1100

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	323	28.2	1.1×
lighting and signalling	228	19.9	0.7×
steering and suspension	192	16.8	1.0×
tyres and wheels	111	9.7	0.9×
lamps and reflectors	64	5.6	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	63	5.5	1.4×
reg plates and vin	53	4.6	1.4×
drive system	45	3.9	1.0×
suspension	42	3.7	1.0×
driving controls	24	2.1	2.0×

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 1100 beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 ZEPHYR 1100.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1997 (85.1% pass). Weakest: 1992 (81.8%).

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 ZEPHYR 1100 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZEPHYR 1100 reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZEPHYR 1100 is about average for its class: 83.0% of its 5,141 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2960 of 5426 models.

What does a ZEPHYR 1100 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 28% of all defects recorded against failed ZEPHYR 1100 tests.

What is the best year of ZEPHYR 1100 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1997-registered examples do best (85.1%) and 1992 worst (81.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZEPHYR 1100 last?

The median ZEPHYR 1100 shows 23,566 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 75.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.