Kawasaki ZX 1000 WHF MOT pass rate and common failures

Kawasaki ZX 1000 WHF motorcycles pass the MOT 93.2% of the time, measured across 706 tests in the DVSA record. A further 2.69% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 6.3 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 93.2% 658 of 706

Fixed at the station 2.69% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 16,032 miles

Average age at test 8.03 years old

Engine 1,043cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Kawasaki ZX 1000 WHF adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with not working - it accounts for 34.5% of failed tests on this model.
Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and missing, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (5.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 16,032 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	93.2%		706

Why the Kawasaki ZX 1000 WHF 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	34.5%	10
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	27.6%	8
3	Missing	24.1%	7
4	Does not conform to the specified requirements	17.2%	5
5	Has a serious fluid leak	13.8%	4
6	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	10.3%	3
7	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	10.3%	3
8	Excessively loose	10.3%	3
9	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	10.3%	3
10	Less than 1.0 mm thick	10.3%	3

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	5.1%	36
2	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	3.8%	27
3	Excessively loose	3.5%	25
4	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	2.3%	16
5	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.1%	15
6	Excessively stiff or notchy	1.3%	9
7	Tread not clearly visible	1.1%	8
8	Worn to excess	1.1%	8
9	Has a serious fluid leak	0.8%	6
10	Excessively distorted	0.4%	3

Kawasaki ZX 1000 WHF for sale

No Kawasaki ZX 1000 WHF in stock at the moment - 1,110 other Kawasaki bikes are advertised.

Used Kawasaki ZX 1000 WHF 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 R1250 · 1,254cc	6,764	96.17%	17,373

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

Kawasaki ZX 1000 WHF MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki ZX 1000 WHF?+

93.2% of Kawasaki ZX 1000 WHF MOT tests end in a pass, based on 706 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Kawasaki ZX 1000 WHF?+

Not working, which appears in 34.5% 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.