Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 213 vehicles, the 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3 are: Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (32.7% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (18.4% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (16.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Kawasaki Er250 B3 (1989)

213 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.1% first-time pass rate

1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3

CarHunch analysed 213 real MOT records for the 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1989 Kawasaki ER250-B3 passes its MOT first time in 85% of cases, a solid 5 percentage points above the UK average of 80%, suggesting these old bikes are holding up reasonably well. Dangerous defects are vanishingly rare at just 0.9%, so safety concerns shouldn't deter a buyer.

These machines typically show around 26,800 miles on the clock—modest for their age—and when they do fail, it's rarely dramatic; owners average just 0.1 failures and 0.3 advisories per test. If you're considering one, a full pre-purchase inspection by a bike-savvy mechanic is still essential, but the MOT data suggests the ER250-B3 is a straightforward classic to maintain.

We have limited data for the 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

85.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

0.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.1

Over 1.4 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

27k

Middle half: 24k–33k

For context

These stats describe 213 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 213 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 32.7%

Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 18.4%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Lighting 14.3%

Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Headlamp masks/converters fitted · Headlamp aim too low · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 10.2%

Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised · Steering movement slightly 'notchy' · Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 8.2%

Drive chain excessively tight

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 213 Kawasaki Er250 B3 cars.

Before you buy a 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3

Based on MOT data from 213 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	211	85%	0.1

Colour Breakdown

Based on 560 Kawasaki Er250 B3 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 90.4%

506

Black 3.4%

Silver 3%

Green 2.3%

White 0.9%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

26,813

typical

23,747

low mileage

33,418

high mileage

Half of all 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3 vehicles fall between 23,747 and 33,418 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 23,747 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 23,747–33,418 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3s sit.

⚠ Over 45,114 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

1.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.1

Avg failures per vehicle

0.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kawasaki Er250 B3: All Er250 B3 years → Which year to buy? →

1988 1990

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 1989 Kawasaki Er250 B3 stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?