Kawasaki ZX400-L5
Real ownership data from 95 UK ZX400-L5 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common ZX400-L5 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and indicators | fail | 11.9% |
| Brakes | fail | 10.9% |
| Chain and sprockets | fail | 5% |
| Steering and head bearings | fail | 4% |
| Exhaust and emissions | fail | 4% |
| Tyres | fail | 4% |
| Controls and cables | fail | 2% |
| Brake discs and pads | fail | 2% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is tyres.
ZX400-L5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 6 | 22,491 mi | 1,088 | 89.47% |
| 1998 | 29 | 18,986 mi | 2,184 | 73.68% |
| 1997 | 38 | 19,432 mi | 817 | 77.14% |
| 1996 | 20 | 18,503 mi | 896 | 81.25% |
ZX400-L5 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Kawasaki ZX400-L5?
Across 95 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are lights and indicators (11.9% of all recorded faults), brakes (10.9% of all recorded faults), chain and sprockets (5% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Kawasaki ZX400-L5?
The median Kawasaki ZX400-L5 in the UK has covered 19,429 miles, and typically rides about 1,052 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 11,553 and 27,258 miles.
Is the Kawasaki ZX400-L5 reliable?
79.78% of Kawasaki ZX400-L5 MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0.99 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 95 Kawasaki ZX400-L5 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.