KAWASAKI ZL400

398cc Petrol Class 2

#4436 of 5426 overall #546 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2714 of 2787 other bikes

73.6%

first-time pass rate

15.4%

failed outright

25,309

median miles at test

383

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZL400's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZL400 passes first time 75.0% of the time; by 40k that's 64.7%.

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 ZL400

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	34	26.8
steering and suspension	30	23.6
lighting and signalling	26	20.5
fuel and exhaust	15	11.8
tyres and wheels	7	5.5
reg plates and vin	4	3.1
lamps and reflectors	4	3.1
suspension	3	2.4
driving controls	3	2.4
tyres	1	0.8

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 ZL400 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 ZL400.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1987 (74.6% pass). Weakest: 1986 (69.6%).

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.