Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 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 2005 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 2005 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 2005 Kawasaki Kle500 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 279 vehicles, the 2005 Kawasaki Kle500 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2005 Kawasaki Kle500?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2005 Kawasaki Kle500 are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (48% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (42.2% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (35.5% 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 2005 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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Kawasaki Kle500 (2005)

279 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86% first-time pass rate

2005 Kawasaki Kle500

CarHunch analysed 279 real MOT records for the 2005 Kawasaki Kle500. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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 2005 Kawasaki KLE500 passes its MOT first time at 86%, which is a solid 6 percentage points above the UK average of 80%, suggesting these bikes are generally well-maintained. The dangerous defect rate of 14.3% is moderate and not a major red flag, though it's worth checking brake and suspension condition carefully on any example you view.

These bikes typically have just over 12,000 miles on the clock, which is low for their age and indicates many are weekend or leisure machines rather than commuters. With an average of 1.62 failures and 5.8 advisories per test, the typical issues are minor wear items rather than structural problems—budget for routine maintenance but don't expect major repairs. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the fuel system and electrics, which are common weak points on older Kawasakis.

We have limited data for the 2005 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

86%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

14.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.62

Over 10.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

12k

Middle half: 7k–18k

For context

These stats describe 279 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.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 279 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 48%

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 42.2%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick · …

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

Lighting 30.9%

Drive chain slightly loose · Exhaust slightly deteriorated · Rear Drive chain sprocket slightly worn · …

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

Other issues 26.6%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Horn not working · Drive chain sprocket carrier worn but not considered excessive · …

Exhaust & emissions 23.5%

Exhaust noisy

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 279 Kawasaki Kle500 cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Kawasaki Kle500

Based on MOT data from 279 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.3% 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 954 Kawasaki Kle500 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 20.8%

198

Black 18.7%

178

Silver 17.4%

166

Blue 15.8%

151

Purple 10.1%

Grey 8.4%

Green 7.9%

White 1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 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.

12,122

typical

7,033

low mileage

17,902

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Kawasaki Kle500 vehicles fall between 7,033 and 17,902 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 7,033 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.

✓ 7,033–17,902 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Kawasaki Kle500s sit.

⚠ Over 24,167 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Kawasaki Kle500 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 51% of 2005 Kawasaki Kle500s are still active.

75 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 51% 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

10.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.62

Avg failures per vehicle

5.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1991

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2005 Kawasaki Kle500 stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?