Kawasaki Er vs Yamaha FZS600

The Kawasaki Er passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha FZS600: 86.2% vs 82.6%, a 3.6-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Kawasaki Er	Yamaha FZS600
First-time pass rate	86.2%	82.6%
Outright fail rate	7.1%	10.6%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-0.7 pts	-0.8 pts
Engine size	649cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#2148 of 5428	#3052 of 5428
Median miles at test	10,117	21,612
MOT tests analysed	8,001	136,558
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	brakes

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	Kawasaki Er	Yamaha FZS600
Brakes	1.9%	4.5%
Lights & signalling	2.9%	3.4%
Tyres & wheels	1.9%	2.9%
Steering & suspension	1.4%	2.7%
Structure & body	1.7%	1.1%
Fuel & exhaust	0.0%	1.1%
Drive system	0.1%	0.9%

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	Kawasaki Er	Yamaha FZS600
2018	86.7%	81.3%
2019	87.5%	83.0%
2020	86.5%	83.6%
2021	86.9%	82.8%
2022	85.3%	83.6%
2023	84.3%	84.2%
2024	86.3%	83.3%
2025	86.2%	84.0%

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	Kawasaki Er	Yamaha FZS600
0k-10k miles	90.8%	89.6%
10k-20k miles	83.7%	85.5%
20k-30k miles	80.2%	81.4%
30k-40k miles	76.2%	78.7%
40k-50k miles	76.7%	76.8%
50k-60k miles	70.2%	74.7%

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

Kawasaki Er vs Yamaha FZS600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Kawasaki Er or the Yamaha FZS600?

The Kawasaki Er passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha FZS600: 86.2% vs 82.6%, a 3.6-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-0.7 vs -0.8 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 Kawasaki Er fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.9% of Kawasaki Er MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (1.9%).

What does the Yamaha FZS600 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 4.5% of Yamaha FZS600 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (3.4%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Kawasaki Er or the Yamaha FZS600?

At 50k-60k miles the Yamaha FZS600 passes first time more often: 70.2% for the Kawasaki Er vs 74.7% for the Yamaha FZS600.

KAWASAKI ER 86.2% pass · 8,001 tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests

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