Kawasaki ZX 1000 WJF vs BMW R1150

The Kawasaki ZX 1000 WJF passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW R1150: 92.7% vs 88.5%, a 4.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Kawasaki ZX 1000 WJF	BMW R1150
First-time pass rate	92.7%	88.5%
Outright fail rate	2.8%	6.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+5.1 pts	+6.7 pts
Engine size	1,043cc	1,130cc
Rank among all models	#344 of 5428	#1449 of 5428
Median miles at test	8,968	33,151
MOT tests analysed	4,296	170,963
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 ZX 1000 WJF	BMW R1150
Brakes	0.8%	2.9%
Lights & signalling	0.9%	2.4%
Tyres & wheels	0.9%	1.7%
Steering & suspension	0.5%	1.4%
Structure & body	0.3%	0.2%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	0.1%

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 ZX 1000 WJF	BMW R1150
2020	91.7%	88.0%
2021	92.0%	87.9%
2022	92.4%	88.6%
2023	94.1%	89.1%
2024	92.4%	88.1%
2025	92.6%	89.1%

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 ZX 1000 WJF	BMW R1150
0k-10k miles	94.6%	92.9%
10k-20k miles	91.4%	92.1%
20k-30k miles	86.0%	90.1%
30k-40k miles	81.7%	88.6%

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

Kawasaki ZX 1000 WJF vs BMW R1150 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Kawasaki ZX 1000 WJF or the BMW R1150?

The Kawasaki ZX 1000 WJF passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW R1150: 92.7% vs 88.5%, a 4.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW R1150 still comes out ahead: +5.1 points vs comparable bikes for the Kawasaki ZX 1000 WJF, +6.7 for the BMW R1150. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Kawasaki ZX 1000 WJF fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 0.9% of Kawasaki ZX 1000 WJF MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (0.9%).

What does the BMW R1150 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 2.9% of BMW R1150 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.4%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Kawasaki ZX 1000 WJF or the BMW R1150?

At 30k-40k miles the BMW R1150 passes first time more often: 81.7% for the Kawasaki ZX 1000 WJF vs 88.6% for the BMW R1150.

KAWASAKI ZX 1000 WJF 92.7% pass · 4,296 tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests

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