Kawasaki ZX550-
Real ownership data from 391 UK ZX550- motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common ZX550- problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and indicators | major | 14.7% |
| Brakes | fail | 9.3% |
| Steering and head bearings | fail | 3.9% |
| Exhaust and emissions | fail | 2.3% |
| Suspension | fail | 2.3% |
| Wheels | fail | 2.3% |
| Other | fail | 2.3% |
| Chain and sprockets | fail | 2.3% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is suspension.
ZX550- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 7 | 41,613 mi | 688 | 100% |
| 1987 | 62 | 44,062 mi | 522 | 66.67% |
| 1986 | 197 | 42,960 mi | 858 | 81.25% |
| 1985 | 119 | 46,578 mi | 963 | 88.89% |
ZX550- questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Kawasaki ZX550-?
Across 391 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are lights and indicators (14.7% of all recorded faults), brakes (9.3% of all recorded faults), steering and head bearings (3.9% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Kawasaki ZX550-?
The median Kawasaki ZX550- in the UK has covered 42,960 miles, and typically rides about 688 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 39,138 and 50,558 miles.
Is the Kawasaki ZX550- reliable?
80.25% of Kawasaki ZX550- MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 1.4 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 391 Kawasaki ZX550- motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.