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

Free Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf car check

Is the Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf reliable? We analysed 2,730 real MOT tests across 311 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,730 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.4%
Typical Mileage
11,942mi
Annual Mileage
957mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
15yrs

The Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf 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 wheel bearings have excessive free play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf.

Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf Number Plates

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

Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

94.8%
2013
86.9%
2012
87.2%
2011

Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf 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 27
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 7
wheel bearings have excessive free play 6

Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 25
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 14
Valve stem seriously damaged 8

Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
323 mi/yr
Typical
957 mi/yr
Average
1,672 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,161 mi/yr

Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 77 94.8% 8,132 13,618 18,933
2012 994 86.9% 7,269 12,120 18,770
2011 1,627 87.2% 6,652 11,686 18,906

How Long Does a Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf Last?

Based on 311 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.7 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
15 years

Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf Mileage Distribution

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

Median
11,942 mi
75th Percentile
18,858 mi
95th Percentile
35,103 mi
Max Recorded
127,888 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf

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

Best year
2013

94.8% MOT pass rate from 77 tests

Year to avoid
2012

86.9% MOT pass rate from 994 tests

The best year to buy a used Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf is 2013, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.8% across 77 tests. The 2012 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.9% — 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 Cbf 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 Cbf THIS CAR 87.4% 2,730 11,942 mi 15 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 Edge TDCI 68 80.3% 1,040 103,730 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf?

The Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.4% across 2,730 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 Cbf are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (27 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (7), and wheel bearings have excessive free play (6). 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 tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf 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 Cbf owner drives around 957 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 Cbf models stay on UK roads for around 15 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 Cbf — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf reliable?
Based on 2,730 MOT tests, the Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf has a 87.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf?
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 wheel bearings have excessive free play. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf do per year?
The typical Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf does around 957 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf last?
Most Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf models stay on UK roads for around 15 years based on our analysis of 311 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf?
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 Cbf?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf is 2013 with a 94.8% pass rate across 77 tests.