Kawasaki ZX550-A4
Real ownership data from 394 UK ZX550-A4 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common ZX550-A4 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and indicators | major | 12.4% |
| Suspension | fail | 11.8% |
| Brakes | fail | 7.9% |
| Other | fail | 7.3% |
| Controls and cables | fail | 3.4% |
| Steering and head bearings | fail | 2.8% |
| Chain and sprockets | fail | 2.8% |
| Brake discs and pads | fail | 2.3% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is suspension.
ZX550-A4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 40 | 28,056 mi | 766 | 76.47% |
| 1990 | 93 | 32,281 mi | 2,358 | 55.17% |
| 1989 | 140 | 37,015 mi | 1,420 | 85.71% |
| 1988 | 102 | 51,670 mi | 43 | 62.5% |
| 1987 | 18 | 43,780 mi | 3,794 | 33.33% |
ZX550-A4 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Kawasaki ZX550-A4?
Across 394 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are lights and indicators (12.4% of all recorded faults), suspension (11.8% of all recorded faults), brakes (7.9% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Kawasaki ZX550-A4?
The median Kawasaki ZX550-A4 in the UK has covered 37,510 miles, and typically rides about 1,233 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 26,652 and 51,670 miles.
Is the Kawasaki ZX550-A4 reliable?
71.03% of Kawasaki ZX550-A4 MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 1.39 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 394 Kawasaki ZX550-A4 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.