KAWASAKI ZX 1000 WKF

1043cc Petrol Class 2

#330 of 5426 overall #34 of 592 KAWASAKIs #203 of 2787 other bikes

92.8%

first-time pass rate

2.6%

failed outright

7,900

median miles at test

3,398

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The ZX 1000 WKF's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.7 points since 2021, 94.2% to 92.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage ZX 1000 WKF passes first time 94.0% of the time; by 30k that's 88.1%.

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 WKF

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
tyres	37	28.2	1.2×
brakes	31	23.7	0.2×
lamps and reflectors	24	18.3	0.4×
steering	15	11.5	1.1×
Identification of the vehicle	10	7.6	1.3×
structure and attachments	7	5.3	0.3×
suspension	3	2.3	0.1×
audible warning (Horn)	2	1.5	0.3×
wheels	2	1.5	1.0×

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 WKF beats 3 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 WKF.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2018 (95.3% pass). Weakest: 2019 (92.5%).

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 WKF FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZX 1000 WKF reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZX 1000 WKF is more reliable than average for its class: 92.8% of its 3,398 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #330 of 5426 models.

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

tyres — 28% of all defects recorded against failed ZX 1000 WKF tests.

What is the best year of ZX 1000 WKF to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2018-registered examples do best (95.3%) and 2020 worst (92.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZX 1000 WKF last?

The median ZX 1000 WKF shows 7,900 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 88.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.