Kawasaki ER 650 KLFA MOT pass rate and common failures

Kawasaki ER 650 KLFA motorcycles pass the MOT 90.19% of the time, measured across 214 tests in the DVSA record. A further 7.48% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 3.3 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 90.19% 193 of 214
Fixed at the station 7.48% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 9,723 miles
Average age at test 4.62 years old
Engine 649cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Kawasaki ER 650 KLFA adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

  • Start with missing - it accounts for 100% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check too high and not working, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (5.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 9,723 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
3-5 years 90.19% 214

Why the Kawasaki ER 650 KLFA 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 Missing 100% 8
2 Too high 80% 4
3 Not working 40% 2
4 Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) 20% 1
5 Excessively loose 20% 1
6 Grip insecure to handlebar 20% 1
7 Has a serious fluid leak 20% 1
8 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 20% 1
9 Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 20% 1
10 Inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources 20% 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 Less than 1.0 mm thick 5.1% 11
2 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 5.1% 11
3 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 5.1% 11
4 Excessively loose 4.2% 9
5 Worn to excess 3.3% 7
6 Seriously damaged 1.9% 4
7 Tread not clearly visible 1.4% 3
8 Excessively deformed 0.9% 2
9 Has a serious fluid leak 0.9% 2
10 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 0.9% 2

Kawasaki ER 650 KLFA for sale

No Kawasaki ER 650 KLFA in stock at the moment - 1,110 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

Kawasaki ER 650 KLFA MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki ER 650 KLFA?+
90.19% of Kawasaki ER 650 KLFA MOT tests end in a pass, based on 214 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Kawasaki ER 650 KLFA?+
Missing, which appears in 100% of failed tests on this model.
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.
Top