KAWASAKI ZR 900 BJF

948cc Petrol Class 2

#823 of 5426 overall #92 of 592 KAWASAKIs #502 of 2787 other bikes

90.4%

first-time pass rate

3.4%

failed outright

6,219

median miles at test

1,517

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The ZR 900 BJF's first-time pass rate has risen 3.5 points since 2021, 87.5% to 91.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage ZR 900 BJF passes first time 91.3% of the time; by 20k that's 90.2%.

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 ZR 900 BJF

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	29	32.2	1.1×
tyres	22	24.4	1.6×
brakes	12	13.3	0.1×
Identification of the vehicle	11	12.2	3.1×
structure and attachments	8	8.9	0.8×
steering	5	5.6	0.8×
suspension	3	3.3	0.2×

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 BJF 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 BJF.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2017 (93.9% pass). Weakest: 2019 (89.1%).

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 BJF FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZR 900 BJF reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZR 900 BJF is more reliable than average for its class: 90.4% of its 1,517 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #823 of 5426 models.

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

lamps and reflectors — 32% of all defects recorded against failed ZR 900 BJF tests.

What is the best year of ZR 900 BJF to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2017-registered examples do best (93.9%) and 2019 worst (89.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZR 900 BJF last?

The median ZR 900 BJF shows 6,219 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 90.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.