BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KAWASAKI/ZX 1400 DAF ABS
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KAWASAKI ZX 1400 DAF ABS

1352cc Petrol Class 2
#921 of 5428 overall #107 of 592 KAWASAKIs #561 of 2788 other bikes
90.1%
first-time pass rate
5.2%
failed outright
16,492
median miles at test
3,742
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+5.2pp
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 · 2013–2025

The ZX 1400 DAF ABS's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.9 points since 2013, 93.4% to 83.5%.

81%88%96%2013: 93.4% pass (290 tests)2014: 91.2% pass (385 tests)2015: 91.2% pass (364 tests)2016: 90.2% pass (347 tests)2017: 91.6% pass (335 tests)2018: 92.9% pass (268 tests)2019: 89.8% pass (256 tests)2020: 89.5% pass (219 tests)2021: 88.7% pass (292 tests)2022: 87.6% pass (275 tests)2023: 88.5% pass (269 tests)2024: 90.2% pass (214 tests)2025: 83.5% pass (212 tests)20132025

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZX 1400 DAF ABS's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZX 1400 DAF ABS passes first time 93.0% of the time; by 50k that's 87.1%.

82%88%95%0k: 93.0% pass (1,028 tests)10k: 91.1% pass (1,257 tests)20k: 89.1% pass (804 tests)30k: 86.4% pass (367 tests)40k: 83.9% pass (155 tests)50k: 87.1% pass (70 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 ZX 1400 DAF ABS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
70 23.6 0.3×
suspension
43 14.5 1.4×
tyres and wheels
39 13.1 0.5×
lamps and reflectors
38 12.8 0.5×
tyres
31 10.4 1.0×
steering and suspension
20 6.7 0.2×
lighting and signalling
18 6.1 0.1×
structure and attachments
17 5.7 0.6×
steering
14 4.7 0.7×
audible warning (Horn)
7 2.4 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 1400 DAF ABS beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests Compare head-to-head →
BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 ZX 1400 DAF ABS.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the ZX 1400 Daf Abs

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: 2010 (90.4%). Lowest: 2011 (89.2%). Every ZX 1400 Daf Abs year compared →

88%90%91%2009: 89.8% pass (197 tests)2010: 90.4% pass (2,769 tests)2011: 89.2% pass (742 tests)200920102011

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 1400 DAF ABS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZX 1400 DAF ABS reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZX 1400 DAF ABS is more reliable than average for its class: 90.1% of its 3,742 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #921 of 5428 models.

What does a ZX 1400 DAF ABS fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 24% of all defects recorded against failed ZX 1400 DAF ABS tests.

What is the best year of ZX 1400 DAF ABS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2010-registered examples do best (90.4%) and 2011 worst (89.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZX 1400 DAF ABS last?

The median ZX 1400 DAF ABS shows 16,492 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 87.1% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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