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R950 TAU

1997 Kawasaki Zephyr 550

Black Petrol 553cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Sep 2026
Tests13 (10 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

45,655 mi
Last recorded45,655 miles
Recorded on4 Sep 2025
Typical for 1997 Kawasaki Zephyr 55017,357 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Kawasaki
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR950 TAU
MakeKawasaki
ModelZephyr 550
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine553cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

10 pass 3 fail
Pass 4 Sep 2025 45,655 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (1.1.13 (a))

Pass 6 Aug 2024 43,395 miles

Front Brake lever is short but brake can still be readily applied (1.1.2 (d))

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 21 Jun 2023 41,152 miles

Corrosion noted on underside of tank

Motorcycle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Valve stem slightly damaged Perishing (5.2.3 (j))

Fail 21 Jun 2023 41,152 miles

Corrosion noted on underside of tank

Motorcycle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Valve stem slightly damaged Perishing (5.2.3 (j))

Offside Front Brake cylinder leaking and braking performance affected Blead nipple loose (1.1.16 (b) (ii))

Pass 28 Aug 2018 41,118 miles

Rear Valve perishing

Pass 23 May 2016 41,076 miles
Fail 23 May 2016 41,076 miles

Front Headlamp aim too low (1.6)

Pass 17 Nov 2014 41,074 miles

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey (7.1.1b)

Exhaust noisy (7.1.2)

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.3(ii))

Rear suspension bush has slight free play (2.4.A2a(i))

Pass 12 Nov 2011 39,413 miles

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey (7.1.1b)

Exhaust noisy (7.1.2)

Pass 20 Apr 2009 27,443 miles
Fail 31 Mar 2009 27,283 miles

Front Roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (3.3.A1d)

Pass 5 Apr 2008 17,248 miles
Pass 13 May 2006 17,232 miles

How Reliable is the Kawasaki Zephyr 550?

Based on 9,181 MOT tests across 1,073 vehicles.

81.5%
Pass Rate
454
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
1,073
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 200
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 183
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 120
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 99
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 67
Full Kawasaki Zephyr 550 reliability report

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R950 TAU is a 1997 Kawasaki Zephyr 550 in Black with a 553cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

Across all 1997 Kawasaki Zephyr 550 models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.2% with a typical mileage of 17,357 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Kawasaki Zephyr 550 fails its MOT is shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, accounting for 200 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R950 TAU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Kawasaki Zephyr 550 typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 29 years old, this Kawasaki Zephyr 550 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R950 TAU?

You can check the full history of R950 TAU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R950 TAU registered?

R950 TAU is a 1997 Kawasaki Zephyr 550, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R950 TAU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R950 TAU shows 13 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R950 TAU have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on R950 TAU. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.