KAWASAKI ZR 900 BHF

948cc Petrol Class 2

#919 of 5426 overall #107 of 592 KAWASAKIs #560 of 2787 other bikes

90.1%

first-time pass rate

3.7%

failed outright

7,378

median miles at test

2,892

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2020–2025

The ZR 900 BHF's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.9 points since 2020, 92.6% to 89.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZR 900 BHF's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZR 900 BHF passes first time 91.4% of the time; by 30k that's 86.1%.

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 ZR 900 BHF

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	65	41.1	1.1×
tyres	25	15.8	1.1×
brakes	23	14.6	0.2×
structure and attachments	16	10.1	0.8×
Identification of the vehicle	13	8.2	1.9×
audible warning (Horn)	8	5.1	1.5×
suspension	6	3.8	0.3×
wheels	1	0.6	0.6×
steering	1	0.6	0.1×

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 ZR 900 BHF beats 3 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 ZR 900 BHF.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2017 (90.6% pass). Weakest: 2018 (88.1%).

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 ZR 900 BHF FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZR 900 BHF reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZR 900 BHF is more reliable than average for its class: 90.1% of its 2,892 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #919 of 5426 models.

What does a ZR 900 BHF fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 41% of all defects recorded against failed ZR 900 BHF tests.

How many miles will a ZR 900 BHF last?

The median ZR 900 BHF shows 7,378 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 86.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.