Aprilia Tuono vs Kawasaki Z1000

The Aprilia Tuono passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki Z1000: 88.4% vs 84.5%, a 3.9-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Aprilia Tuono	Kawasaki Z1000
First-time pass rate	88.4%	84.5%
Outright fail rate	5.5%	7.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+2.3 pts	-0.5 pts
Engine size	998cc	953cc
Rank among all models	#1478 of 5428	#2613 of 5428
Median miles at test	11,489	17,154
MOT tests analysed	34,724	22,743
Most common failure	brakes	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.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better

Component	Aprilia Tuono	Kawasaki Z1000
Lights & signalling	2.5%	4.0%
Brakes	1.5%	2.2%
Steering & suspension	1.2%	1.9%
Tyres & wheels	1.1%	1.6%
Structure & body	0.6%	0.6%
Drive system	0.3%	0.3%
Fuel & exhaust	0.2%	0.4%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Aprilia Tuono	Kawasaki Z1000
2018	88.7%	87.6%
2019	89.4%	85.7%
2020	90.5%	86.9%
2021	90.2%	85.5%
2022	89.9%	88.1%
2023	90.4%	86.5%
2024	91.3%	85.1%
2025	90.3%	85.9%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

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

Mileage	Aprilia Tuono	Kawasaki Z1000
0k-10k miles	90.7%	87.2%
10k-20k miles	87.2%	85.7%
20k-30k miles	86.2%	82.5%
30k-40k miles	84.6%	82.0%
40k-50k miles	82.1%	79.3%
50k-60k miles	85.7%	83.7%

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

Aprilia Tuono vs Kawasaki Z1000 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Aprilia Tuono or the Kawasaki Z1000?

The Aprilia Tuono passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki Z1000: 88.4% vs 84.5%, a 3.9-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Aprilia Tuono still comes out ahead: +2.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Aprilia Tuono, -0.5 for the Kawasaki Z1000. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia Tuono fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.5% of Aprilia Tuono MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.5%).

What does the Kawasaki Z1000 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.0% of Kawasaki Z1000 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.2%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Aprilia Tuono or the Kawasaki Z1000?

At 50k-60k miles the Aprilia Tuono passes first time more often: 85.7% for the Aprilia Tuono vs 83.7% for the Kawasaki Z1000.

APRILIA TUONO 88.4% pass · 34.7k tests KAWASAKI Z1000 84.5% pass · 22.7k tests

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