BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KAWASAKI/ZXR750R
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KAWASAKI ZXR750R

749cc Petrol Class 2
#2868 of 5428 overall #337 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1810 of 2788 other bikes
83.4%
first-time pass rate
9.8%
failed outright
24,222
median miles at test
875
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+0.7pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2016

The ZXR750R's first-time pass rate has risen 2.6 points since 2006, 76.8% to 79.4%.

73%84%94%2006: 76.8% pass (95 tests)2007: 82.4% pass (91 tests)2008: 78.6% pass (84 tests)2009: 77.0% pass (74 tests)2010: 82.3% pass (62 tests)2011: 86.6% pass (67 tests)2012: 90.7% pass (54 tests)2013: 81.4% pass (43 tests)2014: 84.9% pass (53 tests)2016: 79.4% pass (34 tests)20062016

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZXR750R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZXR750R passes first time 86.9% of the time; by 40k that's 77.9%.

76%82%89%0k: 86.9% pass (130 tests)10k: 86.4% pass (176 tests)20k: 82.2% pass (253 tests)30k: 80.5% pass (195 tests)40k: 77.9% pass (68 tests)0k20k40k

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 ZXR750R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
61 25.8 1.2×
brakes
59 25 1.0×
steering and suspension
53 22.5 1.3×
tyres and wheels
13 5.5 0.6×
drive system
13 5.5 1.6×
reg plates and vin
12 5.1 2.2×
fuel and exhaust
10 4.2 1.5×
body and structure
9 3.8 1.9×
lamps and reflectors
4 1.7 0.3×
suspension
2 0.8 0.2×

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 ZXR750R beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 ZXR750R.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the ZXR750R

More KAWASAKI models

other KAWASAKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests
KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k tests
KAWASAKI ZZR600 79.0% pass · 53.7k tests
KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests
KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100 80.8% pass · 39.7k tests
KAWASAKI ZX 89.4% pass · 34.6k tests

See all KAWASAKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1993 (89.2%). Lowest: 1991 (76.3%). Every ZXR750R year compared →

74%83%92%1991: 76.3% pass (186 tests)1992: 85.8% pass (289 tests)1993: 89.2% pass (166 tests)1994: 76.5% pass (68 tests)1995: 85.9% pass (85 tests)199119931995

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 ZXR750R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZXR750R reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZXR750R is about average for its class: 83.4% of its 875 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2868 of 5428 models.

What does a ZXR750R fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 26% of all defects recorded against failed ZXR750R tests.

What is the best year of ZXR750R to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1993-registered examples do best (89.2%) and 1991 worst (76.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZXR750R last?

The median ZXR750R shows 24,222 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 77.9% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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