Kawasaki ZXR
Real ownership data from 326 UK ZXR motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common ZXR problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and indicators | major | 12.6% |
| Brakes | major | 6.9% |
| Suspension | major | 3.9% |
| Other | fail | 3.3% |
| Tyres | fail | 2.9% |
| Steering and head bearings | fail | 2.3% |
| Chain and sprockets | fail | 2.3% |
| Brake discs and pads | fail | 2% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is suspension.
ZXR 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 | 16,664 mi | 912 | 88.89% |
| 2004 | 12 | 19,028 mi | 958 | 86.44% |
| 2003 | 10 | 19,376 mi | 1,335 | 79.57% |
| 2002 | 7 | 30,224 mi | 582 | 73.13% |
| 2001 | 8 | 20,146 mi | 1,332 | 75.36% |
| 2000 | 14 | 31,358 mi | 1,472 | 80.17% |
| 1999 | 12 | 33,277 mi | 346 | 72.12% |
| 1998 | 33 | 30,474 mi | 1,183 | 71.98% |
| 1997 | 33 | 24,716 mi | 550 | 73.68% |
| 1996 | 32 | 26,928 mi | 608 | 74.06% |
| 1995 | 42 | 27,550 mi | 833 | 74.53% |
| 1994 | 22 | 28,058 mi | 928 | 75.51% |
| 1992 | 22 | 31,981 mi | 312 | 78.65% |
| 1991 | 14 | 35,689 mi | 450 | 69.66% |
| 1990 | 19 | 37,353 mi | 445 | 72.64% |
| 1989 | 25 | 35,952 mi | 425 | 75.97% |
ZXR questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Kawasaki ZXR?
Across 326 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are lights and indicators (12.6% of all recorded faults), brakes (6.9% of all recorded faults), suspension (3.9% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Kawasaki ZXR?
The median Kawasaki ZXR in the UK has covered 28,544 miles, and typically rides about 742 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 18,295 and 38,987 miles.
Is the Kawasaki ZXR reliable?
75.68% of Kawasaki ZXR MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 1.26 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 326 Kawasaki ZXR motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.