Kawasaki Z1a 900 vs Kawasaki Zx-9r: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Kawasaki Z1a 900
89%
MOT pass rate · 8 vehicles
Kawasaki Zx-9r
84%
MOT pass rate · 8,856 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Kawasaki Z1a 900 (89%) and Kawasaki Zx-9r (84%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Kawasaki Z1a 900 | Kawasaki Zx-9r |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 89% ✓ | 84% |
| MOT failure rate | 11% ✓ | 16% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.2 ✓ | 0.8 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 1% |
| Average mileage | 30,107 mi | 32,039 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 8 | 8,856 |
Most common faults
Kawasaki Z1a 900
- Front Stop lamp switch does not operate in accordance with the requirements (4.3.2 (a) (i))
- Front soft fork action
- Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))
- Nearside Front Dipswitch does not operate immediately when selected on dipped beam wired wrong way (4.1.3 (b))
- Nearside Front Dipswitch does not operate immediately when selected on main beam wired wrong way (4.1.3 (b))
- Rear Stop lamp not working adjust rear switch (4.3.1 (a) (ii))
Kawasaki Zx-9r
- Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii))
- Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii))
- Exhaust noisy (7.1.2)
- Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))
- Drive chain slightly loose (6.2.1d)
- Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (3.2.A1f(i))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Kawasaki Z1a 900 (89%) and Kawasaki Zx-9r (84%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Kawasaki Z1a 900 report Full Kawasaki Zx-9r 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.