BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KAWASAKI/ZR750
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KAWASAKI ZR750

749cc Petrol Class 2
#3318 of 5428 overall #388 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2115 of 2788 other bikes
81.3%
first-time pass rate
9.3%
failed outright
15,127
median miles at test
2,858
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-3.7pp
vs expected · age & mileage

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

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The ZR750's first-time pass rate has risen 2.4 points since 2006, 76.5% to 78.9%.

70%80%90%2006: 76.5% pass (34 tests)2007: 87.0% pass (54 tests)2008: 82.2% pass (107 tests)2009: 86.6% pass (149 tests)2010: 84.5% pass (174 tests)2011: 82.9% pass (205 tests)2012: 75.0% pass (196 tests)2013: 81.3% pass (198 tests)2014: 81.5% pass (216 tests)2015: 79.2% pass (202 tests)2016: 84.2% pass (209 tests)2017: 78.1% pass (178 tests)2018: 84.2% pass (139 tests)2019: 82.7% pass (133 tests)2020: 77.0% pass (87 tests)2021: 79.5% pass (132 tests)2022: 73.7% pass (118 tests)2023: 85.7% pass (119 tests)2024: 85.4% pass (89 tests)2025: 78.9% pass (114 tests)20062025

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZR750's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZR750 passes first time 86.5% of the time; by 50k that's 73.7%.

71%80%89%0k: 86.5% pass (874 tests)10k: 84.2% pass (969 tests)20k: 73.4% pass (545 tests)30k: 76.3% pass (253 tests)40k: 73.7% pass (114 tests)50k: 73.7% pass (38 tests)0k30k50k

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 ZR750

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
114 23.7 0.6×
brakes
93 19.3 0.7×
tyres and wheels
78 16.2 1.2×
steering and suspension
48 10 0.5×
lamps and reflectors
47 9.8 0.8×
structure and attachments
25 5.2 1.0×
drive system
24 5 1.1×
tyres
22 4.6 0.8×
reg plates and vin
16 3.3 0.9×
suspension
14 2.9 0.6×

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 ZR750 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 ZR750.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the ZR750

More KAWASAKI models

other KAWASAKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests
KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k tests
KAWASAKI ZZR600 79.0% pass · 53.7k tests
KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests
KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100 80.8% pass · 39.7k tests
KAWASAKI ZX 89.4% pass · 34.6k tests

See all KAWASAKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1991 (90.0%). Lowest: 2004 (79.3%). Every ZR750 year compared →

77%85%92%1991: 90.0% pass (110 tests)1992: 82.5% pass (57 tests)1995: 80.3% pass (66 tests)2004: 79.3% pass (280 tests)2005: 79.3% pass (694 tests)2006: 81.5% pass (492 tests)2007: 84.1% pass (289 tests)2008: 84.2% pass (221 tests)2009: 87.7% pass (163 tests)2010: 83.7% pass (153 tests)2011: 86.5% pass (96 tests)199120062011

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 ZR750 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZR750 reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZR750 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.3% of its 2,858 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3318 of 5428 models.

What does a ZR750 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 24% of all defects recorded against failed ZR750 tests.

What is the best year of ZR750 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1991-registered examples do best (90.0%) and 2005 worst (79.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZR750 last?

The median ZR750 shows 15,127 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 73.7% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum: a live Kawasaki ZR750 reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.