Kawasaki Drifter vs Kawasaki Unknown: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Kawasaki Drifter
87%
MOT pass rate · 30 vehicles
More reliable
Kawasaki Unknown
85%
MOT pass rate · 151,652 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Kawasaki Drifter is the more reliable of the two — 87% pass first time versus 85%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Kawasaki Drifter | Kawasaki Unknown |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 87% ✓ | 85% |
| MOT failure rate | 13% ✓ | 15% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.5 ✓ | 0.8 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 2% ✓ | 3% |
| Average mileage | 31,254 mi | 19,921 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 30 | 151,652 |
Most common faults
Kawasaki Drifter
- Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii))
- Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside (1.6)
- Exhaust noisy (7.1.2)
- Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))
- Headlamp masks/converters fitted
- Rear reflector on motorcycle missing (1.4.1)
Kawasaki Unknown
- Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))
- Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (1.2.1 (e))
- COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION
- Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))
- Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (5.2.3 (e))
- Drive chain slightly loose (6.1.7 (c) (i))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Kawasaki Drifter is the more reliable of the two — 87% pass first time versus 85%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Kawasaki Drifter report Full Kawasaki Unknown report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.