Kawasaki ZX-9R MOT pass rate and common failures

Kawasaki ZX-9R motorcycles pass the MOT 82.34% of the time, measured across 2,123 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.69% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 4.5 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 82.34% 1,748 of 2,123

Fixed at the station 6.69% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 30,432 miles

Average age at test 25.16 years old

Engine 899cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Kawasaki ZX-9R 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 36.9% of failed tests on this model.
Then check has a serious fluid leak and excessively binding, 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 (11% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 30,432 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
16+ years	82.33%		2,122

Why the Kawasaki ZX-9R 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	36.9%	86
2	Has a serious fluid leak	19.3%	45
3	Excessively binding	15.9%	37
4	Insecure	15.5%	36
5	Missing	15%	35
6	Too low	10.3%	24
7	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	10.3%	24
8	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	9.9%	23
9	Does not conform to the specified requirements	9%	21
10	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	7.7%	18

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	11%	234
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	6.5%	139
3	Has a serious fluid leak	6%	127
4	Excessively binding	4.3%	92
5	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	4.2%	89
6	Less than 1.0 mm thick	3.3%	70
7	Excessively stiff or notchy	2.3%	49
8	Excessively loose	2.3%	48
9	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1.5%	32
10	Excessively tight	1.4%	29

Kawasaki ZX-9R for sale

No Kawasaki ZX-9R in stock at the moment - 1,110 other Kawasaki bikes are advertised.

Used Kawasaki ZX-9R 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 S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc	6,022	88.01%	23,152
Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc	5,720	90.98%	16,130

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

Kawasaki ZX-9R MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki ZX-9R?+

82.34% of Kawasaki ZX-9R MOT tests end in a pass, based on 2,123 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Kawasaki ZX-9R?+

Not working, which appears in 36.9% 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.