Kawasaki ER MOT pass rate and common failures
Kawasaki ER motorcycles pass the MOT 86.36% of the time, measured across 946 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.81% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with not working - it accounts for 36.5% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check missing and tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (8.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 17,366 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 | 85.98% | 756 | |
| 11-15 years | 88.82% | 170 |
Why the Kawasaki ER 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 | Not working | 36.5% | 27 | |
| 2 | Missing | 24.3% | 18 | |
| 3 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 23% | 17 | |
| 4 | Has a serious fluid leak | 14.9% | 11 | |
| 5 | Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) | 13.5% | 10 | |
| 6 | Excessively binding | 9.5% | 7 | |
| 7 | Excessively loose | 9.5% | 7 | |
| 8 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 9.5% | 7 | |
| 9 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 6.8% | 5 | |
| 10 | Too low | 6.8% | 5 |
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 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 8.2% | 78 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 8.2% | 78 | |
| 3 | Excessively loose | 5.1% | 48 | |
| 4 | Has a serious fluid leak | 2.9% | 27 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 2.7% | 26 | |
| 6 | Significantly and obviously worn | 2.3% | 22 | |
| 7 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 2.1% | 20 | |
| 8 | Worn to excess | 2.1% | 20 | |
| 9 | Excessively binding | 1.8% | 17 | |
| 10 | In such a condition that it is seriously weakened | 1.4% | 13 |
Kawasaki ER for sale
No Kawasaki ER 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB 397-750cc · 397-750cc | 5,400 | 89.76% | 19,444 | |
| Honda NC · 741cc | 5,311 | 89.53% | 22,765 | |
| Suzuki GSF600 · 600cc | 4,890 | 80% | 29,308 | |
| Honda CBR600F · 599cc | 4,710 | 85.56% | 30,651 | |
| Kawasaki ZX-6R · 599-636cc | 4,510 | 81.62% | 26,019 | |
| Suzuki SV650 · 646cc | 3,834 | 80.99% | 27,644 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method