Kawasaki Er6 (2009)

422 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.6% first-time pass rate

2009 Kawasaki Er6

CarHunch analysed 422 real MOT records for the 2009 Kawasaki Er6. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 422 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2009 Kawasaki ER6 passes its MOT first time at 87.6%, which is well above the UK average of 80%, suggesting solid baseline reliability for the model year. However, nearly one in five of these bikes have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a material concern for any prospective buyer and warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

The median mileage of just 13,162 miles is unusually low for a 15-year-old bike, indicating many examples have been lightly used or stored—a positive signal for mechanical condition. The average of 1.45 failures and 6.1 advisories per test points to minor wear items rather than systemic problems, so focus your pre-purchase checks on tyres, brakes, lights, and chain condition, which typically account for the bulk of advisory work on older bikes.

The 2009 Kawasaki Er6 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (87.6%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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
87.6%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
19.2%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
1.45
Over 10.8 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
13k
Middle half: 8k–21k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 87.6% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 422 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 422 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 57.5%
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.
Exhaust & emissions 57%
Exhaust noisy
Lighting 43.1%
Drive chain slightly loose
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.
Other issues 27.8%
Drive chain worn but not considered excessive
Brake wear 18.3%
Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Suspension & steering 12.7%
Rear suspension bush has slight free play · Rear Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush · Upper Rear suspension bush has slight free play
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2009.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 422 Kawasaki Er6 cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2009 Kawasaki Er6

Based on MOT data from 422 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.2% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,547 Kawasaki Er6 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 39.2%
999
Green 19.6%
500
Silver 11.1%
282
Blue 9.9%
252
Orange 8.7%
221
White 7.4%
189
Yellow 3.1%
79
Red 0.5%
14
Grey 0.4%
11

Mileage Distribution

Most 2009 Kawasaki Er6 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.

13,162
typical
8,005
low mileage
20,873
high mileage

Half of all 2009 Kawasaki Er6 vehicles fall between 8,005 and 20,873 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 8,005 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.
8,005–20,873 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2009 Kawasaki Er6s sit.
Over 28,178 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2009 Kawasaki Er6 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 55% of 2009 Kawasaki Er6s are still active.

194 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 55% of the peak remain.

352 194 2014 2025

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

10.8
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.45
Avg failures per vehicle
6.1
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Kawasaki Er6: All Er6 years → Which year to buy? →
2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2009 Kawasaki Er6 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?