BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ KAWASAKI/ZR 900 CJF
Model report · 2005–2025

KAWASAKI ZR 900 CJF

948cc Petrol Class 2
93.2%
first-time pass rate
1.7%
failed outright
5,518
median miles at test
939
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The ZR 900 CJF's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2021 (92.9% → 93.6%).

91%94%96%2021: 92.9% pass (169 tests)2022: 92.5% pass (212 tests)2023: 95.3% pass (212 tests)2024: 92.3% pass (168 tests)2025: 93.6% pass (172 tests)20212025

What fails on a ZR 900 CJF

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
tyres
8 42.1 1.2×
brakes
6 31.6 0.1×
lamps and reflectors
2 10.5 0.1×
Identification of the vehicle
1 5.3 0.5×
audible warning (Horn)
1 5.3 0.6×
steering
1 5.3 0.3×

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

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 CJF.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2018 (93.1% pass). Weakest: 2019 (92.9%).

92%93%94%2018: 93.1% pass (744 tests)2019: 92.9% pass (183 tests)20182019

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 CJF FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZR 900 CJF reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZR 900 CJF is more reliable than average for its class: 93.2% of its 939 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #263 of 5426 models.

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

tyres — 42% of all defects recorded against failed ZR 900 CJF tests.