Kawasaki GPZ500S MOT pass rate and common failures
Kawasaki GPZ500S motorcycles pass the MOT 85.13% of the time, measured across 343 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.66% 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 25.7% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check insecure and has a major leak of exhaust gases, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (7.9% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 25,491 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16+ years | 85.13% | 343 |
Why the Kawasaki GPZ500S 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 | 25.7% | 9 | |
| 2 | Insecure | 14.3% | 5 | |
| 3 | Has a major leak of exhaust gases | 11.4% | 4 | |
| 4 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 11.4% | 4 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 11.4% | 4 | |
| 6 | Projected beam image obviously incorrect | 11.4% | 4 | |
| 7 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 8.6% | 3 | |
| 8 | Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) | 8.6% | 3 | |
| 9 | Excessively binding | 8.6% | 3 | |
| 10 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 8.6% | 3 |
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 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 7.9% | 27 | |
| 2 | Has a major leak of exhaust gases | 5.2% | 18 | |
| 3 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 4.7% | 16 | |
| 4 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 4.4% | 15 | |
| 5 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 3.8% | 13 | |
| 6 | Has a serious fluid leak | 3.8% | 13 | |
| 7 | In such a condition that it is seriously weakened | 3.8% | 13 | |
| 8 | Excessively loose | 3.2% | 11 | |
| 9 | Has negligible damping effect | 3.2% | 11 | |
| 10 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 2.6% | 9 |
Kawasaki GPZ500S for sale
No Kawasaki GPZ500S 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Suzuki GSXR600 · 599cc | 3,831 | 81.83% | 25,077 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method