KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100

1052cc Petrol Class 2

#3420 of 5426 overall #405 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2183 of 2787 other bikes

80.8%

first-time pass rate

13.1%

failed outright

29,838

median miles at test

39.7k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The ZZ-R1100's first-time pass rate has risen 5.1 points since 2005, 81.6% to 86.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZZ-R1100's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZZ-R1100 passes first time 87.3% of the time; by 50k that's 76.8%.

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 ZZ-R1100

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	3,584	32.9	1.5×
steering and suspension	2,378	21.8	1.5×
lighting and signalling	1,824	16.7	0.9×
tyres and wheels	1,164	10.7	1.3×
drive system	417	3.8	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	367	3.4	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	352	3.2	1.0×
suspension	311	2.9	0.9×
reg plates and vin	297	2.7	1.0×
driving controls	213	2	2.3×

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 ZZ-R1100 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 ZZ-R1100.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2001 (87.8% pass). Weakest: 1990 (76.7%).

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 ZZ-R1100 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100 reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.8% of its 39,662 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3420 of 5426 models.

What does a ZZ-R1100 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 33% of all defects recorded against failed ZZ-R1100 tests.

What is the best year of ZZ-R1100 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2001-registered examples do best (87.8%) and 1990 worst (76.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZZ-R1100 last?

The median ZZ-R1100 shows 29,838 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 76.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.