KAWASAKI ZZR400

399cc Petrol Class 2

#4875 of 5426 overall #587 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2786 of 2787 other bikes

67.6%

first-time pass rate

23.1%

failed outright

33,120

median miles at test

1,097

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2017

The ZZR400's first-time pass rate has risen 4.2 points since 2005, 69.0% to 73.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the ZZR400's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ZZR400 passes first time 62.9% of the time; by 50k that's 53.8%.

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 ZZR400

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	210	32.4	2.9×
steering and suspension	117	18	2.5×
lighting and signalling	105	16.2	1.8×
tyres and wheels	70	10.8	2.6×
drive system	49	7.6	5.1×
fuel and exhaust	41	6.3	3.6×
reg plates and vin	17	2.6	1.6×
driving controls	16	2.5	6.2×
body and structure	13	2	2.5×
lamps and reflectors	11	1.7	0.6×

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 ZZR400 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 ZZR400.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1996 (73.8% pass). Weakest: 1995 (55.9%).

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.

KAWASAKI ZZR400 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ZZR400 reliable?

The KAWASAKI ZZR400 is less reliable than average for its class: 67.6% of its 1,097 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4875 of 5426 models.

What does a ZZR400 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 32% of all defects recorded against failed ZZR400 tests.

What is the best year of ZZR400 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1996-registered examples do best (73.8%) and 1995 worst (55.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ZZR400 last?

The median ZZR400 shows 33,120 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 53.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.