Husqvarna Fe vs Kawasaki ZXR400

The Husqvarna Fe passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki ZXR400: 80.5% vs 73.1%, a 7.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Husqvarna Fe	Kawasaki ZXR400
First-time pass rate	80.5%	73.1%
Outright fail rate	9.5%	18.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-9.4 pts	-9.9 pts
Engine size	350cc	398cc
Rank among all models	#3478 of 5428	#4490 of 5428
Median miles at test	2,555	23,651
MOT tests analysed	2,136	14,200
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	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	Husqvarna Fe	Kawasaki ZXR400
Lights & signalling	4.7%	9.1%
Steering & suspension	4.3%	7.9%
Brakes	0.8%	7.9%
Tyres & wheels	2.0%	4.0%
Structure & body	0.8%	2.2%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	2.4%
Drive system	0.0%	1.9%

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	Husqvarna Fe	Kawasaki ZXR400
2018	83.6%	75.9%
2019	80.8%	79.3%
2020	76.6%	80.4%
2021	79.7%	81.2%
2022	79.8%	86.3%
2023	81.5%	82.8%
2024	85.5%	80.0%
2025	81.7%	88.4%

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	Husqvarna Fe	Kawasaki ZXR400
0k-10k miles	80.7%	87.1%
10k-20k miles	69.7%	77.4%

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

Husqvarna Fe vs Kawasaki ZXR400 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Husqvarna Fe or the Kawasaki ZXR400?

The Husqvarna Fe passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki ZXR400: 80.5% vs 73.1%, a 7.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-9.4 vs -9.9 points against comparable bikes), so the raw gap is mostly down to how old and how used each fleet is. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Husqvarna Fe fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.7% of Husqvarna Fe MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (4.3%).

What does the Kawasaki ZXR400 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 9.1% of Kawasaki ZXR400 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (7.9%).

HUSQVARNA FE 80.5% pass · 2,136 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.