Matchless G5 vs Kawasaki ZXR400

The Matchless G5 passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki ZXR400: 89.3% vs 73.1%, a 16.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Matchless G5	Kawasaki ZXR400
First-time pass rate	89.3%	73.1%
Outright fail rate	3.6%	18.9%
Engine size	350cc	398cc
Rank among all models	#1180 of 5428	#4490 of 5428
Median miles at test	9,700	23,651
MOT tests analysed	338	14,200
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.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Matchless G5	Kawasaki ZXR400
2006	93.8%	73.0%
2007	87.1%	72.3%
2012	90.3%	69.5%

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	Matchless G5	Kawasaki ZXR400
0k-10k miles	88.8%	87.1%
20k-30k miles	94.5%	69.9%
30k-40k miles	87.0%	67.8%

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

MATCHLESS G5 89.3% pass · 338 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.