KAWASAKI ZX 1000 JCF

998cc Petrol Class 2

#2658 of 5426 overall #305 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1672 of 2787 other bikes

84.3%

first-time pass rate

5.9%

failed outright

9,870

median miles at test

547

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2016–2025

The ZX 1000 JCF's first-time pass rate has risen 10.1 points since 2016, 82.2% to 92.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZX 1000 JCF's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZX 1000 JCF passes first time 87.0% of the time; by 20k that's 76.9%.

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 ZX 1000 JCF

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	18	27.7	1.4×
brakes	10	15.4	0.3×
lighting and signalling	10	15.4	0.4×
tyres	6	9.2	1.3×
Identification of the vehicle	4	6.2	3.2×
reg plates and vin	4	6.2	1.0×
structure and attachments	4	6.2	1.1×
wheels	4	6.2	6.1×
steering	3	4.6	0.9×
steering and suspension	2	3.1	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

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the ZX 1000 JCF beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 ZX 1000 JCF.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2013 (85.0% pass). Weakest: 2012 (83.0%).

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.

KAWASAKI ZX 1000 JCF FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZX 1000 JCF reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZX 1000 JCF is about average for its class: 84.3% of its 547 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2658 of 5426 models.

What does a ZX 1000 JCF fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 28% of all defects recorded against failed ZX 1000 JCF tests.

How many miles will a ZX 1000 JCF last?

The median ZX 1000 JCF shows 9,870 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 76.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.