Kawasaki Ex250 F3 (1990)
1990 Kawasaki Ex250 F3
CarHunch analysed 105 real MOT records for the 1990 Kawasaki Ex250 F3. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 1990 Kawasaki EX250-F3 is a genuinely alarming prospect: only 9.9% pass their MOT on the first attempt, compared to the UK average of 80%, and virtually all petrol examples (9.2% pass rate) perform identically poorly. Dangerous defects are vanishingly rare at 0.9% of vehicles, which is the only bright spot in an otherwise dire reliability picture.
The median mileage of 24,879 miles is low for a 34-year-old bike, suggesting many examples are barely ridden survivors rather than well-maintained runners—and that's reflected in the fact that almost nine in ten fail their first MOT attempt. With an average of 0.15 failures and 0.3 advisories per vehicle, the defects are spread across many bikes rather than concentrated in a few basket cases, indicating systemic age-related deterioration. Don't buy one expecting a quick fix: have an independent pre-purchase inspection by a specialist Kawasaki mechanic, and budget for thorough restoration if you're considering this model.
What to check before buying a 1990 Kawasaki Ex250 F3
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Kawasaki Ex250 F3
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 104 | 9.2% | 0.14 |
| Other (1%) | 1 | 80% | 1 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1990 Kawasaki Ex250 F3 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1990 Kawasaki Ex250 F3 vehicles fall between 14,137 and 29,193 miles.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1990 Kawasaki Ex250 F3
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
35.7%
Drive chain worn but not considered excessive
-
28.6%
Drive chain slightly loose
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21.4%
Exhaust noisy
-
21.4%
Fairing loose
-
21.4%
Rear No plate
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21.4%
Rear Brake pedal pivots slightly worn
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14.3%
Rear reflector on motorcycle missing
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14.3%
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1990. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Kawasaki Ex250 F3?
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