Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2006 Kawasaki Er5?

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 2006 Kawasaki Er5?

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 2006 Kawasaki Er5?

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.

How many 2006 Kawasaki Er5 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

28% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2006 Kawasaki Er5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 150 vehicles, the 2006 Kawasaki Er5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2006 Kawasaki Er5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2006 Kawasaki Er5 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.7% of vehicles), Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (48.6% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (40.9% 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 2006 Kawasaki Er5?

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.

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Kawasaki Er5 (2006)

150 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.9% first-time pass rate

2006 Kawasaki Er5

CarHunch analysed 150 real MOT records for the 2006 Kawasaki Er5. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2006 Kawasaki ER5 passes its MOT slightly above the UK average at 83.9%, but the 28% rate of dangerous defects is a serious red flag—nearly one in three of these bikes have been flagged for safety-critical issues at some point. That's well above the typical threshold and suggests this model has inherent weak spots that demand careful pre-purchase inspection.

These bikes are running at just 17,050 miles median for their age, indicating they've been gently used, yet they still average 2.08 failures and 7.4 advisories per test—a sign that even low-mileage examples need attention to brakes, suspension, and electrics. Before committing to one, get a full mechanical inspection focused on the brake system and frame integrity, as those dangerous defects don't appear out of nowhere.

We have limited data for the 2006 Kawasaki Er5 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

83.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

28%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.08

Over 12.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

17k

Middle half: 10k–26k

For context

These stats describe 150 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 150 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 53.7%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

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

Brake wear 48.6%

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

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

Lighting 32.4%

Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too low · Wheel alignment slightly misaligned.

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

Suspension & steering 29%

Steering movement slightly 'notchy'

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

Other issues 21.7%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain sprocket carrier worn but not considered excessive

Exhaust & emissions 11.1%

Exhaust noisy

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2006.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 150 Kawasaki Er5 cars.

Before you buy a 2006 Kawasaki Er5

Based on MOT data from 150 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Kawasaki Er5 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.

17,050

typical

10,075

low mileage

26,492

high mileage

Half of all 2006 Kawasaki Er5 vehicles fall between 10,075 and 26,492 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 10,075 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.

✓ 10,075–26,492 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2006 Kawasaki Er5s sit.

⚠ Over 35,764 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2006 Kawasaki Er5 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 43% of 2006 Kawasaki Er5s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 45 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (43% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.08

Avg failures per vehicle

7.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kawasaki Er5: All Er5 years → Which year to buy? →

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2006 Kawasaki Er5 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing