Kawasaki W650
Real ownership data from 1,424 UK W650 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common W650 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | fail | 19% |
| Chain and sprockets | major | 13.9% |
| Controls and cables | dangerous | 8.2% |
| Fluid leaks | dangerous | 6% |
| Electrical | major | 5.2% |
| Wheels | major | 4.3% |
| Brake discs and pads | major | 4.1% |
| Frame and structure | user entered | 3.5% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is fluid leaks.
W650 mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| YearYear | MedianMedian mileage | Mi/yrMiles/year | MOT passFirst-time pass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 11 | 29,913 mi | 1,123 | 96.25% |
| 2015 | 6 | 11,706 mi | 342 | 93.94% |
| 2008 | 6 | 20,116 mi | 1,517 | 96% |
| 2006 | 9 | 16,363 mi | 868 | 87.85% |
| 2005 | 52 | 14,452 mi | 670 | 92.99% |
| 2004 | 92 | 13,782 mi | 592 | 91.69% |
| 2003 | 147 | 16,128 mi | 728 | 89.36% |
| 2002 | 263 | 17,496 mi | 681 | 88.64% |
| 2001 | 337 | 15,692 mi | 571 | 88.96% |
| 2000 | 192 | 17,764 mi | 586 | 87.89% |
| 1999 | 287 | 17,425 mi | 561 | 89.89% |
W650 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Kawasaki W650?
Across 1,424 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are suspension (19% of all recorded faults), chain and sprockets (13.9% of all recorded faults), controls and cables (8.2% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Kawasaki W650?
The median Kawasaki W650 in the UK has covered 16,440 miles, and typically rides about 623 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 9,317 and 26,626 miles.
Is the Kawasaki W650 reliable?
89.38% of Kawasaki W650 MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0.02 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 1,424 Kawasaki W650 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.