KAWASAKI ZX 600-E5

599cc Petrol Class 2

#2411 of 5426 overall #274 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1507 of 2787 other bikes

85.3%

first-time pass rate

12.1%

failed outright

27,383

median miles at test

231

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2007

The ZX 600-E5's first-time pass rate has risen 8.1 points since 2006, 81.1% to 89.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZX 600-E5's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZX 600-E5 passes first time 91.5% of the time; by 30k that's 84.1%.

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 600-E5

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	27	42.2
lighting and signalling	10	15.6
steering and suspension	9	14.1
tyres and wheels	6	9.4
fuel and exhaust	3	4.7
structure and attachments	3	4.7
reg plates and vin	2	3.1
tyres	2	3.1
body and structure	1	1.6
lamps and reflectors	1	1.6

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-E5 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k 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 600-E5.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1997 (85.2% pass). Weakest: 1997 (85.2%).

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.