Kawasaki Z800
Real ownership data from 1,584 UK Z800 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common Z800 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Steering and head bearings | dangerous | 14.5% |
| Suspension | major | 7% |
| Exhaust and emissions | fail | 6.5% |
| Brake discs and pads | fail | 6% |
| Chain and sprockets | major | 6% |
| Electrical | major | 5.5% |
| Lights and indicators | dangerous | 4.5% |
| Wheels | dangerous | 3.5% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is fork seals.
Z800 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 19 | 7,987 mi | 882 | 82.93% |
| 2017 | 78 | 12,931 mi | 1,229 | 84.18% |
| 2016 | 410 | 11,452 mi | 1,085 | 86.76% |
| 2015 | 372 | 13,754 mi | 1,108 | 85.76% |
| 2014 | 399 | 14,151 mi | 1,208 | 84.77% |
| 2013 | 301 | 14,662 mi | 1,140 | 84.27% |
| 2012 | 5 | 11,009 mi | 2,527 | 77.78% |
Z800 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Kawasaki Z800?
Across 1,584 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are steering and head bearings (14.5% of all recorded faults), suspension (7% of all recorded faults), exhaust and emissions (6.5% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Kawasaki Z800?
The median Kawasaki Z800 in the UK has covered 13,205 miles, and typically rides about 1,133 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 8,339 and 20,830 miles.
Is the Kawasaki Z800 reliable?
85.32% of Kawasaki Z800 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 1,584 Kawasaki Z800 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.