BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ KAWASAKI/ZX 600-A1
Model report · 2005–2025

KAWASAKI ZX 600-A1

592cc Petrol Class 2
75.0%
first-time pass rate
16.7%
failed outright
31,993
median miles at test
180
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZX 600-A1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZX 600-A1 passes first time 77.4% of the time; by 40k that's 72.2%.

58%72%85%10k: 77.4% pass (31 tests)20k: 81.3% pass (32 tests)30k: 62.2% pass (45 tests)40k: 72.2% pass (36 tests)10k30k40k

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 600-A1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
brakes
24 32.4
lighting and signalling
16 21.6
steering and suspension
13 17.6
tyres and wheels
6 8.1
fuel and exhaust
4 5.4
lamps and reflectors
3 4.1
drive system
3 4.1
reg plates and vin
2 2.7
tyres
2 2.7
body and structure
1 1.4

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 ZX 600-A1 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

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 600-A1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1985 (75.0% pass). Weakest: 1985 (75.0%).

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.