KAWASAKI ZX400

399cc Petrol Class 2

#4748 of 5426 overall #576 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2773 of 2787 other bikes

69.8%

first-time pass rate

22.2%

failed outright

27,946

median miles at test

586

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2015

The ZX400's first-time pass rate has risen 13.9 points since 2006, 62.8% to 76.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZX400's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZX400 passes first time 61.2% of the time; by 50k that's 54.8%.

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 ZX400

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	98	27.5	2.5×
brakes	88	24.6	2.3×
steering and suspension	67	18.8	2.7×
tyres and wheels	27	7.6	1.7×
body and structure	20	5.6	5.7×
fuel and exhaust	16	4.5	3.1×
drive system	15	4.2	3.1×
reg plates and vin	12	3.4	2.7×
driving controls	10	2.8	6.5×
structure and attachments	4	1.1	0.5×

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 ZX400 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 ZX400.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1990 (77.8% pass). Weakest: 1989 (65.0%).

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 ZX400 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZX400 reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZX400 is less reliable than average for its class: 69.8% of its 586 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4748 of 5426 models.

What does a ZX400 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 27% of all defects recorded against failed ZX400 tests.

What is the best year of ZX400 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1990-registered examples do best (77.8%) and 1989 worst (65.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZX400 last?

The median ZX400 shows 27,946 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 54.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.