Kawasaki Z400J
Real ownership data from 152 UK Z400J motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common Z400J problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and indicators | major | 11.7% |
| Brakes | major | 8.9% |
| Suspension | major | 5.1% |
| Other | fail | 3.6% |
| Tyres | fail | 3.3% |
| Steering and head bearings | fail | 2.3% |
| Electrical | fail | 1.8% |
| Chain and sprockets | fail | 1.7% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is suspension.
Z400J mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| Year | Examples | Median mileage | Miles/year | First-time pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 16 | 28,514 mi | 675 | 76.74% |
| 1982 | 34 | 34,846 mi | 257 | 76.92% |
| 1981 | 36 | 27,622 mi | 158 | 75.22% |
| 1980 | 37 | 29,290 mi | 309 | 77.3% |
| 1979 | 10 | 28,605 mi | 694 | 72.22% |
Z400J questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Kawasaki Z400J?
Across 152 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are lights and indicators (11.7% of all recorded faults), brakes (8.9% of all recorded faults), suspension (5.1% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Kawasaki Z400J?
The median Kawasaki Z400J in the UK has covered 29,213 miles, and typically rides about 280 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 17,418 and 39,576 miles.
Is the Kawasaki Z400J reliable?
76.81% of Kawasaki Z400J MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 1.32 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 152 Kawasaki Z400J motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.