Kawasaki GT550 MOT pass rate and common failures

Kawasaki GT550 motorcycles pass the MOT 81.48% of the time, measured across 216 tests in the DVSA record. A further 9.72% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 5.4 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 81.48% 176 of 216

Fixed at the station 9.72% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 35,320 miles

Average age at test 32.18 years old

Engine 553cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Kawasaki GT550 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with missing - it accounts for 47.4% of failed tests on this model.
Then check insecure and too high, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is has a major leak of exhaust gases (4.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 35,320 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	81.4%		215

Why the Kawasaki GT550 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	47.4%	9
2	Insecure	36.8%	7
3	Too high	26.3%	5
4	Excessively binding	21.1%	4
5	Too low	21.1%	4
6	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	15.8%	3
7	Has a serious fluid leak	15.8%	3
8	Not working	15.8%	3
9	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	10.5%	2
10	Has a major leak of exhaust gases	10.5%	2

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	Has a major leak of exhaust gases	4.6%	10
2	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	4.2%	9
3	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	3.7%	8
4	Excessively binding	2.8%	6
5	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	2.8%	6
6	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	2.8%	6
7	Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced	2.3%	5
8	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.3%	5
9	Significantly and obviously worn	2.3%	5
10	Has a serious fluid leak	1.9%	4

Kawasaki GT550 for sale

No Kawasaki GT550 in stock at the moment - 1,110 other Kawasaki bikes are advertised.

Used Kawasaki GT550 Used Kawasaki All Kawasaki Kawasaki MOT statistics

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

Kawasaki GT550 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki GT550?+

81.48% of Kawasaki GT550 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 216 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Kawasaki GT550?+

Missing, which appears in 47.4% 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.