KAWASAKI ZX 900 A1

908cc Petrol Class 2

#3950 of 5426 overall #466 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2502 of 2787 other bikes

77.7%

first-time pass rate

13.4%

failed outright

36,656

median miles at test

224

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZX 900 A1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZX 900 A1 passes first time 81.7% of the time; by 50k that's 76.7%.

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 900 A1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	25	30.9
steering and suspension	22	27.2
brakes	17	21
reg plates and vin	4	4.9
tyres and wheels	4	4.9
driving controls	2	2.5
fuel and exhaust	2	2.5
suspension	2	2.5
lamps and reflectors	2	2.5
drive system	1	1.2

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 900 A1 beats 0 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 900 A1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1984 (80.3% pass). Weakest: 1984 (80.3%).

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.