KAWASAKI ZL600

592cc Petrol Class 2

#3146 of 5426 overall #368 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2001 of 2787 other bikes

82.2%

first-time pass rate

11.3%

failed outright

18,504

median miles at test

2,118

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The ZL600's first-time pass rate has risen 11.2 points since 2005, 71.4% to 82.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZL600's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZL600 passes first time 85.9% of the time; by 50k that's 85.0%.

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 ZL600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	107	24.5	1.1×
lighting and signalling	104	23.8	0.9×
brakes	90	20.6	0.9×
tyres and wheels	41	9.4	0.9×
fuel and exhaust	35	8	2.0×
lamps and reflectors	18	4.1	0.3×
reg plates and vin	16	3.7	1.0×
driving controls	10	2.3	2.0×
suspension	9	2.1	0.6×
body and structure	7	1.6	0.6×

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 ZL600 beats 3 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 ZL600.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (86.1% pass). Weakest: 1986 (78.0%).

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.

KAWASAKI ZL600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZL600 reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZL600 is less reliable than average for its class: 82.2% of its 2,118 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3146 of 5426 models.

What does a ZL600 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 24% of all defects recorded against failed ZL600 tests.

What is the best year of ZL600 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (86.1%) and 1986 worst (78.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZL600 last?

The median ZL600 shows 18,504 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 85.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.