KAWASAKI ZX 600-E6

599cc Petrol Class 2

#2689 of 5426 overall #313 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1692 of 2787 other bikes

84.2%

first-time pass rate

10.9%

failed outright

19,518

median miles at test

368

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2008

The ZX 600-E6's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.2 points since 2006, 88.0% to 81.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZX 600-E6's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZX 600-E6 passes first time 86.7% of the time; by 30k that's 79.0%.

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-E6

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	26	30.6
lighting and signalling	15	17.6
tyres and wheels	11	12.9
drive system	8	9.4
steering and suspension	7	8.2
body and structure	5	5.9
driving controls	5	5.9
lamps and reflectors	4	4.7
structure and attachments	2	2.4
suspension	2	2.4

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-E6 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-E6.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (84.8% pass). Weakest: 1997 (79.2%).

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.