Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Kawasaki Ex?

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 2016 Kawasaki Ex?

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 2016 Kawasaki Ex?

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 2016 Kawasaki Ex reliable?

Based on MOT data from 562 vehicles, the 2016 Kawasaki Ex has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Kawasaki Ex?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Kawasaki Ex are: Exhaust noisy (37.6% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (33.9% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (23% 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 2016 Kawasaki Ex?

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 Ex (2016)

562 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.5% first-time pass rate

2016 Kawasaki Ex

CarHunch analysed 562 real MOT records for the 2016 Kawasaki Ex. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Kawasaki EX passes its MOT on the first attempt 90.5% of the time, well above the UK average of 80%, and only 16.4% of vehicles have ever recorded a dangerous defect—a solid safety record. This is a genuinely reliable bike for its age and mileage profile.

These machines are running at just under 11,000 miles on average, which is modest for an eight-year-old model, suggesting owners are either using them sparingly or maintaining them well. The average 0.66 failures per vehicle and 2.6 advisories per vehicle indicates minor wear rather than structural problems—typical consumables like tyres, chains, and brakes rather than engine or chassis concerns. Before buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the full service history and chain/sprocket condition, as the relatively low mileage makes neglect the real risk here.

The 2016 Kawasaki Ex passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (90.5%) — 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

90.5%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

16.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.66

Over 5.8 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

10k

Middle half: 5k–14k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90.5% 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 2.6 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 562 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 562 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 37.6%

Exhaust noisy

Tyre wear 33.9%

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.

Lighting 22.1%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear reflector missing · Headlamp aim too high

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

Other issues 16.6%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain excessively loose

Brake wear 10.1%

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

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 562 Kawasaki Ex cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Kawasaki Ex

Based on MOT data from 562 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.4% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,408 Kawasaki Ex vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 48.1%

1,158

Black 15.1%

363

White 13.8%

333

Grey 9.1%

218

Red 7.9%

191

Orange 4.5%

109

Blue 1.2%

Silver 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Kawasaki Ex 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.

9,605

typical

5,030

low mileage

14,169

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Kawasaki Ex vehicles fall between 5,030 and 14,169 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 5,030 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.

✓ 5,030–14,169 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Kawasaki Exs sit.

⚠ Over 19,128 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Kawasaki Ex — Still on the Road

Most 2016 Kawasaki Exs are still being driven.

354 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 77% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* 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

5.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.66

Avg failures per vehicle

2.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2013 2014 2015

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Kawasaki Ex stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?