MV Agusta Brutale S vs Kawasaki Z1000

The MV Agusta Brutale S passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki Z1000: 89.2% vs 84.5%, a 4.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	MV Agusta Brutale S	Kawasaki Z1000
First-time pass rate	89.2%	84.5%
Outright fail rate	5.9%	7.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+2.0 pts	-0.5 pts
Engine size	749cc	953cc
Rank among all models	#1212 of 5428	#2613 of 5428
Median miles at test	6,746	17,154
MOT tests analysed	1,076	22,743
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.

"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	MV Agusta Brutale S	Kawasaki Z1000
Lights & signalling	3.3%	4.0%
Steering & suspension	1.5%	1.9%
Tyres & wheels	1.3%	1.6%
Brakes	0.5%	2.2%
Structure & body	0.9%	0.6%
Drive system	0.2%	0.3%
Fuel & exhaust	0.1%	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	MV Agusta Brutale S	Kawasaki Z1000
2017	91.0%	86.3%
2018	86.2%	87.6%
2019	93.6%	85.7%
2020	76.9%	86.9%
2021	90.0%	85.5%
2022	86.7%	88.1%
2023	91.9%	86.5%
2025	91.2%	85.9%

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	MV Agusta Brutale S	Kawasaki Z1000
0k-10k miles	91.9%	87.2%
10k-20k miles	85.4%	85.7%
20k-30k miles	89.7%	82.5%

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

MV Agusta Brutale S vs Kawasaki Z1000 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the MV Agusta Brutale S or the Kawasaki Z1000?

The MV Agusta Brutale S passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki Z1000: 89.2% vs 84.5%, a 4.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the MV Agusta Brutale S still comes out ahead: +2.0 points vs comparable bikes for the MV Agusta Brutale S, -0.5 for the Kawasaki Z1000. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the MV Agusta Brutale S fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.3% of MV Agusta Brutale S MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.5%).

What does the Kawasaki Z1000 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.0% of Kawasaki Z1000 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.2%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the MV Agusta Brutale S or the Kawasaki Z1000?

At 20k-30k miles the MV Agusta Brutale S passes first time more often: 89.7% for the MV Agusta Brutale S vs 82.5% for the Kawasaki Z1000.

MV AGUSTA BRUTALE S 89.2% pass · 1,076 tests KAWASAKI Z1000 84.5% pass · 22.7k tests

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