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Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F car check

Is the Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F reliable? We analysed 4,000 real MOT tests across 372 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 4,000 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
85.6%
Typical Mileage
14,401mi
Annual Mileage
980mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
18yrs

The Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F.

Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

85.6%
2009
85.4%
2008

Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 26
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 22
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 16
Drive chain excessively loose 14
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 13
suspension bush has excessive free play 11

Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 20
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 19

Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
319 mi/yr
Typical
980 mi/yr
Average
1,864 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,479 mi/yr

Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2009 863 85.6% 6,169 12,438 24,368
2008 3,054 85.4% 8,284 14,949 23,844

How Long Does a Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F Last?

Based on 372 Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.8 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
18 years

Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
14,401 mi
75th Percentile
24,054 mi
95th Percentile
45,554 mi
Max Recorded
364,878 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2009

85.6% MOT pass rate from 863 tests

Year to avoid
2008

85.4% MOT pass rate from 3,054 tests

The best year to buy a used Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.6% across 863 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 85.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F THIS CAR 85.6% 4,000 14,401 mi 18 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
Ducati S2R 85.3% 1,536 9,999 mi 21 yrs

Compared to the Kawasaki ZX-6R (81.7% pass rate) and the Kawasaki ZX-9R (83.7% pass rate), the Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F?

The Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.6% across 4,000 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 Ex 650 A8F are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (26 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (22), and steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised (16). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F owner drives around 980 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 Ex 650 A8F models stay on UK roads for around 18 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.

Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F reliable?
Based on 4,000 MOT tests, the Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F has a 85.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F do per year?
The typical Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F does around 980 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F last?
Most Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F models stay on UK roads for around 18 years based on our analysis of 372 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Kawasaki Ex 650 A8F is 2009 with a 85.6% pass rate across 863 tests.