Norton SS vs Kawasaki ZX-6R

The Norton SS passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki ZX-6R: 88.2% vs 78.1%, a 10.1-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Norton SS	Kawasaki ZX-6R
First-time pass rate	88.2%	78.1%
Outright fail rate	3.4%	14.0%
Engine size	650cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#1544 of 5428	#3895 of 5428
Median miles at test	10,495	19,446
MOT tests analysed	204	173,956
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 mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	Norton SS	Kawasaki ZX-6R
0k-10k miles	86.5%	86.1%
10k-20k miles	84.6%	80.6%

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

NORTON SS 88.2% pass · 204 tests KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests

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