Kawasaki Z1000 MOT pass rate and common failures

Kawasaki Z1000 motorcycles pass the MOT 86.06% of the time, measured across 775 tests in the DVSA record. A further 7.35% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 0.8 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 86.06% 667 of 775

Fixed at the station 7.35% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 23,154 miles

Average age at test 18.86 years old

Engine 971cc MOT class 2

For sale now 1 Kawasaki Z1000 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 49% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and has a serious fluid leak, 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 (14.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 23,154 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	89.19%	37
11-15 years	86.03%	179
16+ years	85.77%	555

Why the Kawasaki Z1000 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	49%	25
2	Missing	31.4%	16
3	Has a serious fluid leak	21.6%	11
4	Does not conform to the specified requirements	19.6%	10
5	Excessively stiff or notchy	15.7%	8
6	Too high	15.7%	8
7	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	15.7%	8
8	Insecure	13.7%	7
9	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	11.8%	6
10	Seriously damaged	11.8%	6

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	14.8%	115
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5.5%	43
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	3.6%	28
4	Less than 1.0 mm thick	3.1%	24
5	Excessively loose	3%	23
6	Excessively stiff or notchy	2.1%	16
7	Tread not clearly visible	2.1%	16
8	Has a serious fluid leak	1.5%	12
9	Excessively binding	1.3%	10
10	Insecure	1%	8

Kawasaki Z1000 for sale

1 Kawasaki Z1000 adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 1,110 Kawasaki in total.

Used Kawasaki Z1000 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 TIGER · 969cc	16,144	91.27%	22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc	12,456	90.8%	12,824
BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc	9,796	91.92%	40,594
BMW R1200 · 1,170cc	9,521	94.43%	28,830
BMW S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
BMW R1250 · 1,254cc	6,764	96.17%	17,373

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

Kawasaki Z1000 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki Z1000?+

86.06% of Kawasaki Z1000 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 775 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Kawasaki Z1000?+

Not working, which appears in 49% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Kawasaki Z1000 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 85.77%, against 89.19% for examples 6-10 years old.

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.