Kawasaki ZR MOT pass rate and common failures
Kawasaki ZR motorcycles pass the MOT 87.38% of the time, measured across 1,458 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.49% 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 36.5% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check missing and tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, the next two most common reasons.
- Age matters here: 86.48% of 6-10 year old examples pass, against 78.05% at 16+ years - a gap of 8.4 points.
- 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 (13.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 15,208 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 | 86.48% | 1,124 | |
| 11-15 years | 92.12% | 292 | |
| 16+ years | 78.05% | 41 |
Why the Kawasaki ZR 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 | 36.5% | 38 | |
| 2 | Missing | 32.7% | 34 | |
| 3 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 21.2% | 22 | |
| 4 | Has a serious fluid leak | 19.2% | 20 | |
| 5 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 12.5% | 13 | |
| 6 | Flashing more than 120 times a minute | 11.5% | 12 | |
| 7 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 9.6% | 10 | |
| 8 | Obviously incorrectly positioned | 8.7% | 9 | |
| 9 | With a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning | 7.7% | 8 | |
| 10 | Excessively loose | 6.7% | 7 |
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 | 13.6% | 199 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 5.9% | 86 | |
| 3 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 3.7% | 54 | |
| 4 | Excessively loose | 3.4% | 50 | |
| 5 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 3.4% | 50 | |
| 6 | Worn to excess | 1.6% | 24 | |
| 7 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.6% | 23 | |
| 8 | Has a serious fluid leak | 1% | 15 | |
| 9 | Excessively binding | 1% | 14 | |
| 10 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 1% | 14 |
Kawasaki ZR for sale
No Kawasaki ZR 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 | |
| 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 R 1200 · 1,170cc | 6,170 | 95.28% | 27,241 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method