Bsa A65 vs Kawasaki ZX-6R

The Bsa A65 passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki ZX-6R: 90.9% vs 78.1%, a 12.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Bsa A65	Kawasaki ZX-6R
First-time pass rate	90.9%	78.1%
Outright fail rate	3.9%	14.0%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+6.4 pts	-5.8 pts
Engine size	650cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#705 of 5428	#3895 of 5428
Median miles at test	10,198	19,446
MOT tests analysed	5,064	173,956
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.

"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	Bsa A65	Kawasaki ZX-6R
Lights & signalling	2.0%	6.1%
Brakes	1.0%	5.2%
Steering & suspension	1.3%	4.6%
Tyres & wheels	0.8%	3.6%
Structure & body	0.1%	1.2%
Drive system	0.1%	1.0%
Fuel & exhaust	0.3%	0.8%

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	Bsa A65	Kawasaki ZX-6R
2012	88.7%	75.4%
2013	90.0%	75.5%
2014	91.5%	76.4%
2015	91.3%	76.7%
2016	93.5%	77.7%
2017	90.6%	77.1%
2018	95.1%	78.5%
2019	89.1%	78.5%

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	Bsa A65	Kawasaki ZX-6R
0k-10k miles	90.6%	86.1%
10k-20k miles	91.5%	80.6%
20k-30k miles	91.5%	75.4%
30k-40k miles	91.4%	71.8%
40k-50k miles	90.0%	69.5%
50k-60k miles	93.2%	69.0%

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

Bsa A65 vs Kawasaki ZX-6R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Bsa A65 or the Kawasaki ZX-6R?

The Bsa A65 passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki ZX-6R: 90.9% vs 78.1%, a 12.8-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Bsa A65 still comes out ahead: +6.4 points vs comparable bikes for the Bsa A65, -5.8 for the Kawasaki ZX-6R. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Bsa A65 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.0% of Bsa A65 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.3%).

What does the Kawasaki ZX-6R fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.1% of Kawasaki ZX-6R MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (5.2%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Bsa A65 or the Kawasaki ZX-6R?

At 50k-60k miles the Bsa A65 passes first time more often: 93.2% for the Bsa A65 vs 69.0% for the Kawasaki ZX-6R.

BSA A65 90.9% pass · 5,064 tests KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests

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