Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf?

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 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf?

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 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf?

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 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf reliable?

Based on MOT data from 200 vehicles, the 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf?

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 Ex 650 Cbf (2011)

200 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.6% first-time pass rate

2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf

CarHunch analysed 200 real MOT records for the 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 2011 Kawasaki EX 650 CBF is marginally less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of 78.4% against the national 80%—nothing alarming, but worth noting. The dangerous defect rate of 18% is low enough not to be a major buyer concern, suggesting no systemic safety issues across this cohort.

These bikes are running relatively light at 14,014 miles on average for a 13-year-old machine, which is genuinely healthy. With 1.04 failures and 4.5 advisories per test on average, you're looking at modest wear rather than serious mechanical problems—so if you find a well-maintained example with full service history, a pre-purchase inspection by a Kawasaki specialist will tell you everything you need to know.

We have limited data for the 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

88.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

18%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.04

Over 8.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

12k

Middle half: 7k–18k

For context

These stats describe 200 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?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 200 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf cars.

Before you buy a 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf

Based on MOT data from 200 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18% 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 (96%)	192	88.6%	1.07

Colour Breakdown

Based on 361 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 56.2%

203

Orange 43.8%

158

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf 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.

12,250

typical

7,406

low mileage

17,944

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf vehicles fall between 7,406 and 17,944 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 7,406 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.

✓ 7,406–17,944 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbfs sit.

⚠ Over 24,224 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 61% of 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbfs are still active.

88 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 61% of the peak remain.

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

8.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.04

Avg failures per vehicle

4.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf: All Ex 650 Cbf years → Which year to buy? →

2012

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2011 Kawasaki Ex 650 Cbf stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?