Kawasaki W650 MOT pass rate and common failures

Kawasaki W650 motorcycles pass the MOT 91.9% of the time, measured across 654 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.74% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 5 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 91.9% 601 of 654

Fixed at the station 4.74% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 22,450 miles

Average age at test 23.36 years old

Engine 675cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Kawasaki W650 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with not working - it accounts for 59.1% of failed tests on this model.
Then check too low and insecure, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (4.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 22,450 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	92.08%		644

Why the Kawasaki W650 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	59.1%	13
2	Too low	40.9%	9
3	Insecure	22.7%	5
4	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	18.2%	4
5	Does not conform to the specified requirements	13.6%	3
6	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	13.6%	3
7	Excessively loose	13.6%	3
8	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	13.6%	3
9	Missing	13.6%	3
10	Too high	13.6%	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	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	4.6%	30
2	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	3.2%	21
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.7%	11
4	Excessively loose	1.4%	9
5	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.2%	8
6	Excessively binding	1.1%	7
7	Worn to excess	1.1%	7
8	Chain guard missing	0.8%	5
9	Has excessive play	0.8%	5
10	Tread not clearly visible	0.8%	5

Kawasaki W650 for sale

No Kawasaki W650 in stock at the moment - 1,109 other Kawasaki bikes are advertised.

Used Kawasaki W650 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
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc	12,456	90.8%	12,824
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

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

Kawasaki W650 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki W650?+

91.9% of Kawasaki W650 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 654 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Kawasaki W650?+

Not working, which appears in 59.1% 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.