KAWASAKI ZR550

553cc Petrol Class 2

#4715 of 5426 overall #572 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2770 of 2787 other bikes

70.2%

first-time pass rate

20.3%

failed outright

21,609

median miles at test

305

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZR550's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZR550 passes first time 64.7% of the time; by 40k that's 65.6%.

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 ZR550

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	47	32.2
steering and suspension	34	23.3
lighting and signalling	27	18.5
drive system	12	8.2
fuel and exhaust	8	5.5
tyres and wheels	6	4.1
reg plates and vin	5	3.4
lamps and reflectors	3	2.1
driving controls	2	1.4
suspension	2	1.4

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the ZR550 beats 0 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 ZR550.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1992 (73.8% pass). Weakest: 1996 (63.0%).

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.