Kawasaki ZR 900 CJFB MOT pass rate and common failures
Kawasaki ZR 900 CJFB motorcycles pass the MOT 95.89% of the time, measured across 559 tests in the DVSA record. A further 2.86% 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 missing - it accounts for 71.4% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check too high and does not conform to the specified requirements, 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 (6.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 8,158 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 | 95.8% | 548 |
Why the Kawasaki ZR 900 CJFB 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 | 71.4% | 5 | |
| 2 | Too high | 71.4% | 5 | |
| 3 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 57.1% | 4 | |
| 4 | Not working | 42.9% | 3 | |
| 5 | Excessively tight | 28.6% | 2 | |
| 6 | Obviously incorrectly positioned | 28.6% | 2 | |
| 7 | Too low | 28.6% | 2 | |
| 8 | Control insecure | 14.3% | 1 | |
| 9 | Has excessive play | 14.3% | 1 | |
| 10 | Incorrect which adversely affects the steering | 14.3% | 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 | 6.8% | 38 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 4.5% | 25 | |
| 3 | Excessively loose | 1.3% | 7 | |
| 4 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 0.9% | 5 | |
| 5 | Tread not clearly visible | 0.9% | 5 | |
| 6 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 0.7% | 4 | |
| 7 | Seriously damaged | 0.4% | 2 | |
| 8 | Ball joint excessively worn | 0.2% | 1 | |
| 9 | Excessively binding | 0.2% | 1 | |
| 10 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 0.2% | 1 |
Kawasaki ZR 900 CJFB for sale
No Kawasaki ZR 900 CJFB 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