Kawasaki ZX6R MOT pass rate and common failures

Kawasaki ZX6R motorcycles pass the MOT 79.8% of the time, measured across 203 tests in the DVSA record. A further 8.37% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 7.1 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 79.8% 162 of 203
Fixed at the station 8.37% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 27,555 miles
Average age at test 22.99 years old
Engine 604cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 Kawasaki ZX6R 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 50% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check missing and tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, 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 (7.9% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 27,555 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 81.77% 181

Why the Kawasaki ZX6R 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 50% 12
2 Missing 29.2% 7
3 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 20.8% 5
4 Too low 16.7% 4
5 Does not conform to the specified requirements 12.5% 3
6 Excessively binding 12.5% 3
7 Insecure 12.5% 3
8 Obviously incorrectly positioned 12.5% 3
9 Excessively loose 8.3% 2
10 Has a serious fluid leak 8.3% 2

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 7.9% 16
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 6.9% 14
3 Excessively binding 3.9% 8
4 Excessively loose 3.9% 8
5 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 3% 6
6 Has a serious fluid leak 2.5% 5
7 Less than 1.0 mm thick 2.5% 5
8 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 2% 4
9 Excessively tight 1.5% 3
10 Insecure 1.5% 3

Kawasaki ZX6R for sale

No Kawasaki ZX6R 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
Honda CB 397-750cc · 397-750cc 5,400 89.76% 19,444
Honda NC · 741cc 5,311 89.53% 22,765
Suzuki GSF600 · 600cc 4,890 80% 29,308
Honda CBR600F · 599cc 4,710 85.56% 30,651
Kawasaki ZX-6R · 599-636cc 4,510 81.62% 26,019
Suzuki SV650 · 646cc 3,834 80.99% 27,644

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

Kawasaki ZX6R MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Kawasaki ZX6R?+
79.8% of Kawasaki ZX6R MOT tests end in a pass, based on 203 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Kawasaki ZX6R?+
Not working, which appears in 50% 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.
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