KAWASAKI ZR 900 CJFB
The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.
“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.
Pass rate over time
The ZR 900 CJFB's first-time pass rate has risen 1.8 points since 2021, 93.9% to 95.7%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage ZR 900 CJFB passes first time 95.1% of the time; by 20k that's 97.6%.
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 CJFB
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
6 | 20.7 | 1.0× |
| tyres |
|
6 | 20.7 | 0.2× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
5 | 17.2 | 0.1× |
| structure and attachments |
|
5 | 17.2 | 0.3× |
| audible warning (Horn) |
|
3 | 10.3 | 0.6× |
| steering |
|
2 | 6.9 | 0.2× |
| brakes |
|
1 | 3.4 | — |
| suspension |
|
1 | 3.4 | 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
On first-time pass rate the ZR 900 CJFB 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 CJFB.
Compare with any bike
More KAWASAKI models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2018 (95.1% pass). Weakest: 2019 (94.3%).
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 CJFB FAQ
Is the KAWASAKI ZR 900 CJFB reliable?
The KAWASAKI ZR 900 CJFB is more reliable than average for its class: 95.0% of its 2,593 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #77 of 5428 models.
What does a ZR 900 CJFB fail its MOT on most?
Identification of the vehicle — 21% of all defects recorded against failed ZR 900 CJFB tests.
How many miles will a ZR 900 CJFB last?
The median ZR 900 CJFB shows 4,739 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 97.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
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