KAWASAKI ZX600-E1

592cc Petrol Class 2

#4531 of 5426 overall #560 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2744 of 2787 other bikes

72.6%

first-time pass rate

18.6%

failed outright

30,646

median miles at test

419

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The ZX600-E1's first-time pass rate has fallen 11.2 points since 2006, 78.8% to 67.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZX600-E1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZX600-E1 passes first time 70.3% of the time; by 40k that's 68.9%.

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-E1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	55	31.6
lighting and signalling	40	23
steering and suspension	27	15.5
drive system	15	8.6
tyres and wheels	11	6.3
fuel and exhaust	8	4.6
lamps and reflectors	7	4
reg plates and vin	5	2.9
suspension	3	1.7
structure and attachments	3	1.7

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 ZX600-E1 beats 0 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-E1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1993 (70.4% pass). Weakest: 1993 (70.4%).

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.