KAWASAKI ZX 900-C1

899cc Petrol Class 2

#2940 of 5426 overall #347 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1859 of 2787 other bikes

83.1%

first-time pass rate

10.8%

failed outright

23,223

median miles at test

620

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2009

The ZX 900-C1's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.1 points since 2006, 82.3% to 79.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZX 900-C1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZX 900-C1 passes first time 90.7% of the time; by 40k that's 76.5%.

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-C1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	34	23.9	1.0×
steering and suspension	31	21.8	1.2×
lighting and signalling	25	17.6	0.7×
tyres and wheels	19	13.4	1.3×
lamps and reflectors	12	8.5	0.7×
reg plates and vin	8	5.6	2.0×
fuel and exhaust	4	2.8	0.9×
structure and attachments	4	2.8	0.7×
drive system	3	2.1	0.7×
body and structure	2	1.4	0.7×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the ZX 900-C1 beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT, SUZUKI GSF1200).

BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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-C1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (83.7% pass). Weakest: 1999 (79.7%).

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.

KAWASAKI ZX 900-C1 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZX 900-C1 reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZX 900-C1 is about average for its class: 83.1% of its 620 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2940 of 5426 models.

What does a ZX 900-C1 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 24% of all defects recorded against failed ZX 900-C1 tests.

How many miles will a ZX 900-C1 last?

The median ZX 900-C1 shows 23,223 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 76.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.