Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2001 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 2001 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 2001 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 2001 Kawasaki Gpz500s reliable?

Based on MOT data from 142 vehicles, the 2001 Kawasaki Gpz500s has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2001 Kawasaki Gpz500s?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2001 Kawasaki Gpz500s are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (40.1% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (37.2% of vehicles), Steering movement slightly 'notchy' (27.3% 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 2001 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 (2001)

142 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.4% first-time pass rate

2001 Kawasaki Gpz500s

CarHunch analysed 142 real MOT records for the 2001 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The GPZ500S passes its MOT at 85.4%, which is meaningfully better than the UK average of 80%, suggesting these bikes are generally well-maintained by their owners. However, nearly 17% have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, so mechanical history matters when evaluating an individual machine.

At just under 17,000 miles on average for a 23-year-old bike, these machines have been ridden gently, and the 1.67 average failures per test indicates most issues are minor when they do arise. The high advisory count of 6.4 per vehicle reflects typical wear on ageing bikes, so budget for consumables like brake pads and tyres before committing to purchase, and always request full service records from the seller.

We have limited data for the 2001 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

85.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

16.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.67

Over 10 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 9k–21k

For context

These stats describe 142 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 142 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 40.1%

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.

Suspension & steering 27.3%

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.

Brake wear 25.7%

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

Lighting 23.4%

Drive chain slightly loose

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

Exhaust & emissions 15.5%

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Other issues 14.8%

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 142 Kawasaki Gpz500s cars.

Before you buy a 2001 Kawasaki Gpz500s

Based on MOT data from 142 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.9% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	141	85.3%	1.67

Mileage Distribution

Most 2001 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.

14,617

typical

8,840

low mileage

21,314

high mileage

Half of all 2001 Kawasaki Gpz500s vehicles fall between 8,840 and 21,314 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 8,840 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.

✓ 8,840–21,314 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2001 Kawasaki Gpz500ss sit.

⚠ Over 28,773 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2001 Kawasaki Gpz500s — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 52% of 2001 Kawasaki Gpz500ss are still active.

32 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 52% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.67

Avg failures per vehicle

6.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2001 Kawasaki Gpz500s stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?