Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1991 Kawasaki Kle500?

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 1991 Kawasaki Kle500?

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 1991 Kawasaki Kle500?

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 1991 Kawasaki Kle500 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 109 vehicles, the 1991 Kawasaki Kle500 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1991 Kawasaki Kle500?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1991 Kawasaki Kle500 are: Drive chain slightly loose (30.2% of vehicles), Drive chain worn but not considered excessive (22.9% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (18.8% 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 1991 Kawasaki Kle500?

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 Kle500 (1991)

109 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.5% first-time pass rate

1991 Kawasaki Kle500

CarHunch analysed 109 real MOT records for the 1991 Kawasaki Kle500. 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 Compare Models

The 1991 Kawasaki KLE500 passes its MOT on the first attempt 82.5% of the time, slightly ahead of the UK average of 80%, suggesting these bikes are generally well-maintained. The dangerous defect rate of 14.7% is moderate for a machine of this age and isn't a significant red flag, though it's worth a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

With a median mileage of around 28,000 miles for a 33-year-old bike, these are genuinely low-mileage machines—suggesting they've been cherished or stored rather than thrashed. The average of 1.48 failures and 5.4 advisories per test points to minor wear items (cables, seals, lights) rather than structural problems, so budget for routine maintenance but not major rebuilds.

We have limited data for the 1991 Kawasaki Kle500 — 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

82.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

14.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.48

Over 7.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

28k

Middle half: 21k–38k

For context

These stats describe 109 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 109 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Lighting 30.2%

Drive chain slightly loose · Front Wheel spoke slightly corroded.

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

Other issues 22.9%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Tyre wear 18.8%

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

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 18.8%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake disc(s) slightly worn · Rear Brake disc(s) slightly scored · …

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

Suspension & steering 10.4%

Rear suspension bush has slight free play

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

Exhaust & emissions 10.4%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 109 Kawasaki Kle500 cars.

Before you buy a 1991 Kawasaki Kle500

Based on MOT data from 109 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.7% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 Kawasaki Kle500 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.

27,977

typical

21,018

low mileage

37,652

high mileage

Half of all 1991 Kawasaki Kle500 vehicles fall between 21,018 and 37,652 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 21,018 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.

✓ 21,018–37,652 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1991 Kawasaki Kle500s sit.

⚠ Over 50,830 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1991 Kawasaki Kle500 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 42% of 1991 Kawasaki Kle500s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 14 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

7.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.48

Avg failures per vehicle

5.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kawasaki Kle500: All Kle500 years → Which year to buy? →

2005

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 1991 Kawasaki Kle500 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?