Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5?

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 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5?

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 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5?

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 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 334 vehicles, the 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5 are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (26% of vehicles), Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (26% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (23.4% 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 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5?

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 Ex305 B5 (1990)

334 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.3% first-time pass rate

1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5

CarHunch analysed 334 real MOT records for the 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5. 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 MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 334 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (83.3%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

First-time pass

83.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

1.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.13

Over 1.6 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

30k

Middle half: 23k–35k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

These stats describe 334 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 334 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 26%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear 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 26%

Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Roller brake test indicates a binding brake · …

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

Suspension & steering 15.6%

Rear suspension bush has slight free play · Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect · Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · …

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

Lighting 11.7%

Headlamp aim too low · Wheel alignment slightly misaligned.

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

Other issues 7.8%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1990.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 334 Kawasaki Ex305 B5 cars.

Before you buy a 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5

Based on MOT data from 334 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 1.2% 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 →
📄 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 1,382 Kawasaki Ex305 B5 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 57.7%

798

Red 40.9%

565

Blue 0.6%

Green 0.4%

Purple 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5 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.

30,255

typical

22,602

low mileage

34,884

high mileage

Half of all 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5 vehicles fall between 22,602 and 34,884 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 22,602 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.

✓ 22,602–34,884 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5s sit.

⚠ Over 47,093 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

1.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.13

Avg failures per vehicle

0.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kawasaki Ex305 B5: All Ex305 B5 years → Which year to buy? →

1987 1988 1989 1991

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 1990 Kawasaki Ex305 B5 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?