BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ KAWASAKI/ZX 900-B4
Model report · 2005–2025

KAWASAKI ZX 900-B4

899cc Petrol Class 2
80.0%
first-time pass rate
10.6%
failed outright
24,669
median miles at test
245
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The ZX 900-B4's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.1 points since 2006, 82.9% to 75.8%.

73%82%92%2006: 82.9% pass (41 tests)2007: 88.6% pass (35 tests)2008: 75.8% pass (33 tests)20062008

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZX 900-B4's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZX 900-B4 passes first time 83.3% of the time; by 30k that's 81.0%.

77%81%84%10k: 83.3% pass (48 tests)20k: 78.3% pass (106 tests)30k: 81.0% pass (42 tests)10k20k30k

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-B4

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
brakes
17 32.1
steering and suspension
14 26.4
lighting and signalling
7 13.2
tyres and wheels
7 13.2
body and structure
2 3.8
fuel and exhaust
2 3.8
reg plates and vin
1 1.9
structure and attachments
1 1.9
tyres
1 1.9
driving controls
1 1.9

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-B4 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT, SUZUKI GSF1200).

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-B4.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1997 (80.6% pass). Weakest: 1997 (80.6%).

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.