KAWASAKI ZX400-L3

398cc Petrol Class 2

76.7%

first-time pass rate

19.5%

failed outright

25,975

median miles at test

133

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a ZX400-L3

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	19	25.3
lighting and signalling	15	20
brakes	13	17.3
tyres and wheels	12	16
fuel and exhaust	4	5.3
Items Not Tested	3	4
body and structure	3	4
reg plates and vin	2	2.7
steering	2	2.7
structure and attachments	2	2.7

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 ZX400-L3 beats 1 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-L3.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1994 (78.0% pass). Weakest: 1993 (75.9%).

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.