Ajs Model 16 vs Kawasaki ZXR400

The Ajs Model 16 passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki ZXR400: 93.0% vs 73.1%, a 19.9-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Ajs Model 16	Kawasaki ZXR400
First-time pass rate	93.0%	73.1%
Outright fail rate	2.2%	18.9%
Engine size	350cc	398cc
Rank among all models	#298 of 5428	#4490 of 5428
Median miles at test	14,092	23,651
MOT tests analysed	229	14,200
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	lighting and signalling

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	Ajs Model 16	Kawasaki ZXR400
0k-10k miles	95.6%	87.1%
10k-20k miles	97.0%	77.4%
50k-60k miles	90.9%	64.9%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

AJS MODEL 16 93.0% pass · 229 tests KAWASAKI ZXR400 73.1% pass · 14.2k tests

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.