Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4?

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 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4?

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 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4?

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 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 103 vehicles, the 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (23.1% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (19.2% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (19.2% 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 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4?

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 Z750 P4 (1989)

103 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.8% first-time pass rate

1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4

CarHunch analysed 103 real MOT records for the 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

83.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

1.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.17

Over 1.6 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

34k

Middle half: 16k–45k

For context

These stats describe 103 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 103 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 23.1%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · both tyres cracked · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 19.2%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Brake wear 11.5%

Rear Brake binding but not excessively · Front Brake lever effort spongy but still has reserve. · advise fit retaining clip to hand brake cable · …

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

Lighting 11.5%

Headlamp aim too high · rear wheel slightly stiff to spin

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

Suspension & steering 7.7%

Front Front wheel bearing has slight play · Front Wheel bearing has slight 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 1989.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 103 Kawasaki Z750 P4 cars.

Before you buy a 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4

Based on MOT data from 103 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 1.9% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4 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.

34,103

typical

16,135

low mileage

45,126

high mileage

Half of all 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4 vehicles fall between 16,135 and 45,126 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 16,135 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.

✓ 16,135–45,126 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4s sit.

⚠ Over 60,920 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

1.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.17

Avg failures per vehicle

0.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kawasaki Z750 P4: All Z750 P4 years → Which year to buy? →

1985 1986 1987

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 1989 Kawasaki Z750 P4 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?