KAWASAKI ZR550-B2

553cc Petrol Class 2

#4569 of 5426 overall #564 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2751 of 2787 other bikes

72.1%

first-time pass rate

19.5%

failed outright

24,951

median miles at test

262

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZR550-B2's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZR550-B2 passes first time 75.8% of the time; by 30k that's 71.4%.

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-B2

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	41	36
steering and suspension	25	21.9
lighting and signalling	15	13.2
tyres and wheels	9	7.9
drive system	8	7
lamps and reflectors	7	6.1
suspension	3	2.6
fuel and exhaust	3	2.6
tyres	2	1.8
reg plates and vin	1	0.9

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-B2 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-B2.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1991 (71.0% pass). Weakest: 1992 (69.4%).

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.