Kawasaki ZR 900 CLFB MOT pass rate and common failures

Kawasaki ZR 900 CLFB motorcycles pass the MOT 93.57% of the time, measured across 249 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.61% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 6.7 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 93.57% 233 of 249

Fixed at the station 3.61% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 6,751 miles

Average age at test 5.14 years old

Engine 948cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Kawasaki ZR 900 CLFB adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with missing - it accounts for 57.1% of failed tests on this model.
Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and too high, 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 (2.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 6,751 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	93.52%		247

Why the Kawasaki ZR 900 CLFB 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	57.1%	4
2	Does not conform to the specified requirements	42.9%	3
3	Too high	42.9%	3
4	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	42.9%	3
5	Not working	28.6%	2
6	Excessively loose	14.3%	1
7	Excessively stiff or notchy	14.3%	1
8	Incorrect which adversely affects the handling	14.3%	1
9	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	14.3%	1
10	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	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	2.8%	7
2	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	2%	5
3	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	2%	5
4	Excessively loose	0.8%	2
5	Less than 1.0 mm thick	0.8%	2
6	Seriously damaged	0.8%	2
7	Worn to excess	0.8%	2
8	Component pin or bush excessively worn	0.4%	1
9	Excessively tight	0.4%	1
10	Has a serious fluid leak	0.4%	1

Kawasaki ZR 900 CLFB for sale

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

Used Kawasaki ZR 900 CLFB 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 CLFB MOT questions

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

93.57% of Kawasaki ZR 900 CLFB MOT tests end in a pass, based on 249 tests in the DVSA dataset.

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

Missing, which appears in 57.1% of failed tests on this model.

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.