KAWASAKI ZX600-J

599cc Petrol Class 2

80.0%

first-time pass rate

15.3%

failed outright

20,647

median miles at test

150

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2008

The ZX600-J's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (80.6% → 81.3%).

What fails on a ZX600-J

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	21	35
steering and suspension	12	20
brakes	11	18.3
tyres and wheels	5	8.3
body and structure	3	5
fuel and exhaust	2	3.3
structure and attachments	2	3.3
drive system	2	3.3
reg plates and vin	1	1.7
steering	1	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-J beats 2 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-J.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2000 (81.0% pass). Weakest: 2001 (77.9%).

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.