Kawasaki ZX-9R vs Honda VFR800 Fi

The Honda VFR800 Fi passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki ZX-9R: 86.7% vs 80.7%, a 6.0-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Kawasaki ZX-9R	Honda VFR800 Fi
First-time pass rate	80.7%	86.7%
Outright fail rate	12.0%	8.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-2.3 pts	+4.5 pts
Engine size	899cc	781cc
Rank among all models	#3439 of 5428	#1985 of 5428
Median miles at test	22,320	26,212
MOT tests analysed	88,973	89,421
Most common failure	brakes	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-9R	Honda VFR800 Fi
Brakes	4.6%	3.2%
Lights & signalling	4.8%	2.4%
Steering & suspension	4.0%	2.6%
Tyres & wheels	2.9%	2.3%
Structure & body	1.0%	0.4%
Fuel & exhaust	0.7%	0.5%
Drive system	0.7%	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	Kawasaki ZX-9R	Honda VFR800 Fi
2018	80.9%	86.1%
2019	80.4%	86.6%
2020	80.6%	87.0%
2021	81.2%	87.3%
2022	82.9%	87.1%
2023	82.1%	88.9%
2024	81.7%	88.9%
2025	82.0%	88.2%

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-9R	Honda VFR800 Fi
0k-10k miles	88.6%	92.5%
10k-20k miles	83.6%	89.4%
20k-30k miles	79.4%	87.3%
30k-40k miles	77.1%	85.5%
40k-50k miles	74.5%	83.5%
50k-60k miles	74.9%	81.4%

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

Kawasaki ZX-9R vs Honda VFR800 Fi FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Kawasaki ZX-9R or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

The Honda VFR800 Fi passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki ZX-9R: 86.7% vs 80.7%, a 6.0-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda VFR800 Fi still comes out ahead: -2.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Kawasaki ZX-9R, +4.5 for the Honda VFR800 Fi. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Kawasaki ZX-9R fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.8% of Kawasaki ZX-9R MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (4.6%).

What does the Honda VFR800 Fi fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 3.2% of Honda VFR800 Fi MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (2.6%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Kawasaki ZX-9R or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

At 50k-60k miles the Honda VFR800 Fi passes first time more often: 74.9% for the Kawasaki ZX-9R vs 81.4% for the Honda VFR800 Fi.

KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

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