Kawasaki Er 500-A1 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kawasaki Er 500-A1 car check
Is the Kawasaki Er 500-A1 reliable? We analysed 684 real MOT tests across 121 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kawasaki Er 500-A1? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kawasaki Er 500-A1 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kawasaki Er 500-A1.
Kawasaki Er 500-A1 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kawasaki Er 500-A1. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kawasaki Er 500-A1 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kawasaki Er 500-A1 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kawasaki Er 500-A1 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kawasaki Er 500-A1 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kawasaki Er 500-A1 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kawasaki Er 500-A1 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kawasaki Er 500-A1 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kawasaki Er 500-A1 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 75 | 73.3% | 21,796 | 30,067 | 37,071 |
| 1997 | 523 | 79.9% | 15,370 | 25,516 | 35,013 |
How Long Does a Kawasaki Er 500-A1 Last?
Based on 121 Kawasaki Er 500-A1 vehicles on UK roads.
Kawasaki Er 500-A1 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kawasaki Er 500-A1 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Kawasaki Er 500-A1
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
79.9% MOT pass rate from 523 tests
73.3% MOT pass rate from 75 tests
The best year to buy a used Kawasaki Er 500-A1 is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.9% across 523 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kawasaki Er 500-A1 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki Er 500-A1 THIS CAR | 79.1% | 684 | 24,653 mi | 29 yrs |
| Kawasaki ZX-6R | 81.7% | 204,826 | 19,965 mi | 31 yrs |
| Kawasaki ZX-9R | 83.7% | 103,150 | 22,736 mi | 32 yrs |
| Kawasaki ER5 | 81.2% | 65,763 | 22,023 mi | 30 yrs |
| Ford Fiesta Active Turbo | 92.2% | 1,020 | 16,806 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Kawasaki ZX-6R (81.7% pass rate) and the Kawasaki ZX-9R (83.7% pass rate), the Kawasaki Er 500-A1 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Kawasaki Er 500-A1 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Kawasaki Er 500-A1Should you buy a used Kawasaki Er 500-A1?
The Kawasaki Er 500-A1 has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.1% across 684 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Kawasaki Er 500-A1 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (14 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (13), and roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (12). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Kawasaki Er 500-A1 owner drives around 1,162 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Kawasaki Er 500-A1 models stay on UK roads for around 29 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.