The MOT Files

Motorcycle reliability file

Kawasaki ER MOT pass rate & common failures

From 4,402 recorded MOT tests of the Kawasaki ER, published by DVSA.

Data updated

Quick answer

The Kawasaki ER passes 87.2% of MOT tests once adjusted for age and mileage, ranking 25 of 36 motorcycle models, against 86.5% for all motorcycles. The most recorded failure is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 16.4% of failed tests.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

87.2%adjusted · 88.8% raw · rank 25 of 364,402 tests

0.6 points above the fleet average of 86.5%.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Kawasaki ER tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several, so these do not sum to 100%.

  1. 1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements16.4%

    41 occurrences

  2. 2.Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm14.0%

    35 occurrences

  3. 3.A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely11.2%

    28 occurrences

  4. 4.A tyre valve seriously damaged or misaligned likely which could cause sudden deflation of the tyre7.2%

    18 occurrences

  5. 5.Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear7.2%

    18 occurrences

  6. 6.Rear registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps6.0%

    15 occurrences

  7. 7.A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn6.0%

    15 occurrences

  8. 8.A footrest missing or insecure5.6%

    14 occurrences

  9. 9.A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps5.2%

    13 occurrences

  10. 10.Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted4.8%

    12 occurrences

  11. 11.A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning4.4%

    11 occurrences

  12. 12.Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements4.4%

    11 occurrences

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Kawasaki ER tests carrying each advisory.

  1. 1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements7.9%

    348 tests

  2. 2.Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted6.7%

    296 tests

  3. 3.A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn4.2%

    187 tests

  4. 4.Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm3.5%

    154 tests

  5. 5.A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely2.5%

    109 tests

  6. 6.Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn2.4%

    104 tests

  7. 7.A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn1.8%

    81 tests

  8. 8.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured1.8%

    79 tests

How wear changes the picture

ER pass rate by age and registration year

3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202292%
6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201991%
9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201687%
12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201384%
15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier83%

What gets tested

The ER fleet

Average mileage recorded at test
14,898
Test classes
class 2: 4,389 · class 1: 13
Names grouped into this model (51)
  • ER 400 DKF
  • ER 400 DLF
  • ER 400 FPFNN
  • ER 5
  • ER 500
  • ER 500 C
  • ER 500 C3
  • ER 500 C4P
  • ER 500 C5P
  • ER 6
  • ER 650
  • ER 650 A6S
  • ER 650 A7
  • ER 650 A7F
  • ER 650 A8F
  • ER 650 B6F
  • ER 650 B7F
  • ER 650 B8F ABS
  • ER 650 C9F
  • ER 650 CAF
  • ER 650 CBF
  • ER 650 ECF
  • ER 650 EDS
  • ER 650 EEF
  • ER 650 EFF
  • ER 650 FDS ABS
  • ER 650 FEF ABS
  • ER 650 FFF ABS
  • ER 650 HHF
  • ER 650 HJF
  • ER 650 HKF
  • ER 650 KLF
  • ER 650 KLFA
  • ER 650 KMFAN
  • ER 650 KMFNN
  • ER 650 KNFAN
  • ER 650 KNFCN
  • ER 650 KNFNN
  • ER 650 KNSAN
  • ER 650 KNSNN
  • ER 650 MNACB 50TH ANNIVERSARY
  • ER 650 MNFAB
  • ER 650 MNFBB
  • ER 650 MNFNB
  • ER 650 MNSBB
  • ER 650 MNSNB
  • ER 650 MPFBB
  • ER 650 MPFNB
  • ER 650 NPFAN
  • ER 650 SPFAN
  • ER 650 SPFNN

Compare within the range

Other Kawasaki motorcycles

Common questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a Kawasaki ER?
87.2% once adjusted for the age and mileage of the motorcycles tested, ranking 25 of 36 motorcycle models, from 4,402 DVSA tests. The average across all motorcycles is 86.5%.
What does a Kawasaki ER fail its MOT on?
"Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" is recorded in 16.4% of failed Kawasaki ER tests, followed by "Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm" (14.0%). One failed test often lists several items.
What mileage does a Kawasaki ER usually have at its MOT?
14,898 miles on average across every age tested, so a description of the fleet rather than an annual figure. Motorcycle mileages are low and vary enormously with use; a commuter bike and a weekend bike of the same age can differ by a factor of ten.

Analysis built from DVSA data of