Kawasaki En500 (1991)
1991 Kawasaki En500
CarHunch analysed 170 real MOT records for the 1991 Kawasaki En500. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1991 Kawasaki EN500 passes its MOT at 81.5%, marginally ahead of the UK average of 80%, which suggests these bikes are holding up reasonably well for their age. The dangerous defect rate of 11.2% is modest and shouldn't be a major concern for most buyers.
At over 20,000 miles median, these EN500s have covered decent ground for 30+ year-old machines, yet they're averaging 1.48 failures per test, indicating wear is catching up gradually. When one shows up for sale, budget for routine advisory work—the 5.1 advisories per vehicle reflect typical ageing issues—and always have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brakes and suspension given the failure patterns.
What to check before buying a 1991 Kawasaki En500
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Kawasaki En500
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 169 | 81.6% | 1.48 |
| Steam (1%) | 1 | 71.4% | 2 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1991 Kawasaki En500 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1991 Kawasaki En500 vehicles fall between 12,947 and 28,072 miles.
1991 Kawasaki En500 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 24 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (40% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1991 Kawasaki En500
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
29.4%
Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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22.9%
Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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21.5%
Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey
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19%
Exhaust noisy
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18.6%
Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort
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17.6%
Exhaust noisy
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15.1%
Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit
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15.1%
Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Kawasaki En500?
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