KAWASAKI ZX600

599cc Petrol Class 2

#3975 of 5426 overall #470 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2519 of 2787 other bikes

77.5%

first-time pass rate

13.4%

failed outright

21,949

median miles at test

1,160

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2023

The ZX600's first-time pass rate has risen 2.7 points since 2006, 79.7% to 82.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZX600's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZX600 passes first time 82.1% of the time; by 50k that's 72.5%.

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 ZX600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	104	28	1.4×
lighting and signalling	90	24.2	1.4×
steering and suspension	61	16.4	1.4×
tyres and wheels	32	8.6	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	24	6.5	0.7×
reg plates and vin	19	5.1	2.4×
drive system	17	4.6	1.6×
body and structure	9	2.4	1.6×
suspension	8	2.2	0.8×
tyres	8	2.2	0.8×

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 ZX600 beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k 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 ZX600.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1995 (83.7% pass). Weakest: 2009 (68.0%).

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 ZX600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZX600 reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZX600 is less reliable than average for its class: 77.5% of its 1,160 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3975 of 5426 models.

What does a ZX600 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 28% of all defects recorded against failed ZX600 tests.

What is the best year of ZX600 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1995-registered examples do best (83.7%) and 2009 worst (68.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZX600 last?

The median ZX600 shows 21,949 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 72.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.