Kawasaki EJ MOT pass rate and common failures

Kawasaki EJ motorcycles pass the MOT 94.79% of the time, measured across 307 tests in the DVSA record. A further 2.93% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 7.9 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 94.79% 291 of 307
Fixed at the station 2.93% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 10,092 miles
Average age at test 10.11 years old
Engine 772cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 Kawasaki EJ adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

  • Start with does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls - it accounts for 42.9% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check not working and tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (3.9% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 10,092 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test Pass rate   Tests
6-10 years 94.42% 251
11-15 years 96.08% 51

Why the Kawasaki EJ fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

# Item Of failures   Tests
1 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 42.9% 3
2 Not working 42.9% 3
3 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 42.9% 3
4 Too low 28.6% 2
5 Does not conform to the specified requirements 14.3% 1
6 Flashing more than 120 times a minute 14.3% 1
7 Incorrectly seated on the wheel rim 14.3% 1
8 Insecure 14.3% 1
9 Less than 1.0 mm thick 14.3% 1
10 Missing 14.3% 1

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

# Item Of all tests   Tests
1 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 3.9% 12
2 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 3.6% 11
3 Excessively loose 1% 3
4 Sprocket worn to excess 1% 3
5 Tread not clearly visible 1% 3
6 Worn to excess 1% 3
7 Bent so it cannot be readily operated 0.3% 1
8 Component pin or bush excessively worn 0.3% 1
9 Excessively distorted 0.3% 1
10 Excessively tight 0.3% 1

Kawasaki EJ for sale

No Kawasaki EJ in stock at the moment - 1,103 other Kawasaki bikes are advertised.

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model Tests Pass rate   Avg mileage
Triumph TIGER · 969cc 16,144 91.27% 22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc 12,456 90.8% 12,824
BMW S 1000 · 999cc 8,445 91.96% 15,282
Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc 6,022 88.01% 23,152
Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc 5,720 90.98% 16,130
Honda NC · 741cc 5,311 89.53% 22,765

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Kawasaki EJ MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki EJ?+
94.79% of Kawasaki EJ MOT tests end in a pass, based on 307 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Kawasaki EJ?+
Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls, which appears in 42.9% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Kawasaki EJ get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 11-15 years old the pass rate is 96.08%, against 94.42% for examples 6-10 years old.
Where does this data come from?+
From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.
Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+
Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.
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