Kawasaki Z550 vs Kawasaki Zx-9r: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Kawasaki Z550
81%
MOT pass rate · 435 vehicles
Kawasaki Zx-9r
84%
MOT pass rate · 8,856 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Kawasaki Zx-9r is the more reliable of the two — 84% pass first time versus 81%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Kawasaki Z550 | Kawasaki Zx-9r |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 81% | 84% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 19% | 16% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.9 | 0.8 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% | 1% |
| Average mileage | 35,013 mi | 32,039 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 435 | 8,856 |
Most common faults
Kawasaki Z550
- Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii))
- Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (3.3.A1d)
- Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii))
- Rear reflector on motorcycle missing (1.4.1)
- Exhaust noisy (7.1.2)
- Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey (7.1.1b)
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 Zx-9r is the more reliable of the two — 84% pass first time versus 81%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Kawasaki Z550 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.