Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2?

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 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2?

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 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2?

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 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 347 vehicles, the 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 79.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2 are: Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (31.7% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (25.4% of vehicles), Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn (23.8% 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 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2?

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 Ex500 A2 (1988)

347 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.5% first-time pass rate

1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2

CarHunch analysed 347 real MOT records for the 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2. 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. 347 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (79.5%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

First-time pass

79.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

2.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.25

Over 2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

34k

Middle half: 25k–41k

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 347 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 347 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 31.7%

Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn · Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

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

Tyre wear 25.4%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear 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.

Lighting 17.5%

Drive chain slightly loose · Drive chain slightly tight

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

Exhaust & emissions 11.1%

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey · Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey

Other issues 7.9%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Chain guard missing

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 347 Kawasaki Ex500 A2 cars.

Before you buy a 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2

Based on MOT data from 347 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 2.6% 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 410 Kawasaki Ex500 A2 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 34.1%

140

Green 32.7%

134

Black 26.8%

110

White 3.4%

Blue 2.9%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2 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.

33,822

typical

24,941

low mileage

41,179

high mileage

Half of all 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2 vehicles fall between 24,941 and 41,179 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 24,941 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.

✓ 24,941–41,179 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2s sit.

⚠ Over 55,591 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 59% of 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2s are still active.

13 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2016 — 59% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2016.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.25

Avg failures per vehicle

0.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 1988 Kawasaki Ex500 A2 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?