Kawasaki KH500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kawasaki KH500 car check
Is the Kawasaki KH500 reliable? We analysed 771 real MOT tests across 171 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kawasaki KH500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kawasaki KH500 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp, locking devices not correctly fitted which may make the motor bicycle dangerous to ride and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kawasaki KH500.
Kawasaki KH500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kawasaki KH500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kawasaki KH500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Kawasaki KH500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Kawasaki KH500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kawasaki KH500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kawasaki KH500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kawasaki KH500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kawasaki KH500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Kawasaki KH500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 252 | 88.5% | 12,929 | 22,456 | 28,576 |
| 1975 | 81 | 92.6% | 7,428 | 11,998 | 25,721 |
How Long Does a Kawasaki KH500 Last?
Based on 171 Kawasaki KH500 vehicles on UK roads.
Kawasaki KH500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kawasaki KH500 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 KH500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
92.6% MOT pass rate from 81 tests
88.5% MOT pass rate from 252 tests
The best year to buy a used Kawasaki KH500 is 1975, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.6% across 81 tests. The 1976 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Kawasaki KH500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki KH500 THIS CAR | 90.0% | 771 | 14,299 mi | 51 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 |
| Audi A5 SE TDI | 86.8% | 1,236 | 113,094 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Kawasaki ZX-6R (81.7% pass rate) and the Kawasaki ZX-9R (83.7% pass rate), the Kawasaki KH500 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Kawasaki KH500 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 KH500Should you buy a used Kawasaki KH500?
The Kawasaki KH500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.0% across 771 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 KH500 are direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp (3 recorded failures), locking devices not correctly fitted which may make the motor bicycle dangerous to ride (3), and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on (3). 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 KH500 owner drives around 184 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 KH500 models stay on UK roads for around 51 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.