Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF MOT pass rate and common failures

Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF motorcycles pass the MOT 90.63% of the time, measured across 363 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.34% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 3.8 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 90.63% 329 of 363

Fixed at the station 6.34% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 9,417 miles

Average age at test 5.81 years old

Engine 948cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with missing - it accounts for 81.8% of failed tests on this model.
Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and not working, 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 (10.7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 9,417 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
3-5 years	91.98%		237
6-10 years	88.1%		126

Why the Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF 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	81.8%	9
2	Does not conform to the specified requirements	63.6%	7
3	Not working	36.4%	4
4	Not working on dipped beam	27.3%	3
5	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	18.2%	2
6	Less than 1.0 mm thick	18.2%	2
7	Projected beam image obviously incorrect	18.2%	2
8	Spindle locking device missing	18.2%	2
9	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	9.1%	1
10	Grabbing severely	9.1%	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	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	10.7%	39
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5.5%	20
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	2.8%	10
4	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.8%	10
5	Excessively loose	2.2%	8
6	Tread not clearly visible	1.7%	6
7	Excessively deformed	1.1%	4
8	Excessively stiff or notchy	1.1%	4
9	Seriously damaged	1.1%	4
10	Grabbing severely	0.6%	2

Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF for sale

No Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF in stock at the moment - 1,110 other Kawasaki bikes are advertised.

Used Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF 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 R 1200 · 1,170cc	6,170	95.28%	27,241

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

Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF?+

90.63% of Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF MOT tests end in a pass, based on 363 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF?+

Missing, which appears in 81.8% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Kawasaki ZR 900 BKF get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 6-10 years old the pass rate is 88.1%, against 91.98% for examples 3-5 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.