Kawasaki ZG MOT pass rate and common failures

Kawasaki ZG motorcycles pass the MOT 92.2% of the time, measured across 295 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.05% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 5.3 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 92.2% 272 of 295
Fixed at the station 3.05% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 26,289 miles
Average age at test 9.83 years old
Engine 1,353cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 Kawasaki ZG adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

  • Start with inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps - it accounts for 35.7% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and not working, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (9.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 26,289 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 92.59% 243
11-15 years 89.36% 47

Why the Kawasaki ZG 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 Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 35.7% 5
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 28.6% 4
3 Not working 21.4% 3
4 Does not conform to the specified requirements 14.3% 2
5 Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) 14.3% 2
6 Less than 1.0 mm thick 14.3% 2
7 Has a serious fluid leak 7.1% 1
8 Has a tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 7.1% 1
9 Has excessive play 7.1% 1
10 Inadequately mounted 7.1% 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 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 9.8% 29
2 Less than 1.0 mm thick 7.5% 22
3 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 4.1% 12
4 Excessively stiff or notchy 2% 6
5 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 2% 6
6 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 1.7% 5
7 Significantly and obviously worn 1.4% 4
8 Has a serious fluid leak 1% 3
9 Excessively binding 0.7% 2
10 Nail in tyre 0.7% 2

Kawasaki ZG for sale

No Kawasaki ZG 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
Triumph TIGER · 969cc 16,144 91.27% 22,934
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
BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc 6,170 95.28% 27,241

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

Kawasaki ZG MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki ZG?+
92.2% of Kawasaki ZG MOT tests end in a pass, based on 295 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Kawasaki ZG?+
Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, which appears in 35.7% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Kawasaki ZG get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 11-15 years old the pass rate is 89.36%, against 92.59% 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.
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