Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s?

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 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s?

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 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s?

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 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s reliable?

Based on MOT data from 211 vehicles, the 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (36.9% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (36% of vehicles), Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey (28.8% 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 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s?

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 Gpz500s (1998)

211 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.3% first-time pass rate

1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s

CarHunch analysed 211 real MOT records for the 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s. 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

The 1998 Kawasaki GPZ500S passes its MOT at 80.3%, virtually identical to the UK average, so reliability is solid and unremarkable—neither a standout nor a concern. However, 16.6% of tested machines have shown a dangerous defect at some point, which is worth noting if you're buying used and haven't seen a full service history.

These bikes are running at sensible mileage for their age (median 20,950 miles), and the average 1.82 failures per test suggests minor wear rather than structural problems. The high advisory count of 6.6 per vehicle points to accumulated small issues typical of older bikes, so budget for routine maintenance and get a pre-purchase inspection that covers corrosion, suspension wear, and braking components.

We have limited data for the 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s — 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

80.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

16.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.82

Over 8.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

21k

Middle half: 14k–28k

For context

These stats describe 211 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 211 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 36.9%

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.

Exhaust & emissions 28.8%

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

Lighting 25.8%

Drive chain slightly loose

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

Brake wear 25.2%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear 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.

Other issues 19.6%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain sprocket carrier worn but not considered excessive

Suspension & steering 14.3%

Steering movement slightly 'notchy' · Rear suspension bush has slight free play

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 211 Kawasaki Gpz500s cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s

Based on MOT data from 211 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.6% 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 3,178 Kawasaki Gpz500s vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 36.8%

1,169

Red 34.4%

1,092

Blue 18.8%

599

Silver 3.3%

105

White 2.5%

Green 2.1%

Purple 0.7%

Multi-colour 0.5%

Maroon 0.3%

Grey 0.3%

Yellow 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s 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.

20,950

typical

13,829

low mileage

28,336

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s vehicles fall between 13,829 and 28,336 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 13,829 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.

✓ 13,829–28,336 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500ss sit.

⚠ Over 38,253 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 42% of 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500ss are still active.

Numbers are declining — 30 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (42% of peak).

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

8.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.82

Avg failures per vehicle

6.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kawasaki Gpz500s: All Gpz500s years → Which year to buy? →

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Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Kawasaki Gpz500s stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?