Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Kawasaki Z750 P5?

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 1987 Kawasaki Z750 P5?

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 1987 Kawasaki Z750 P5?

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.

What are common problems with the 1987 Kawasaki Z750 P5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Kawasaki Z750 P5 are: Exhaust noisy (37.5% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (25% of vehicles), Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (12.5% 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 1987 Kawasaki Z750 P5?

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 P5 (1987)

131 real MOT outcomes analysed

1987 Kawasaki Z750 P5

CarHunch has 131 1987 Kawasaki Z750 P5 vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Compare Models

Got a specific Kawasaki Z750 P5 you're checking out?

The real detail is in the individual vehicle report — MOT history, AI Hunches, mileage timeline, and defect patterns for that specific reg.

This 1987 Kawasaki Z750-P5 is a reliability disaster—only 4.1% of the 131 tested examples passed their MOT first time, compared to the UK average of 80%, and none have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which suggests these bikes are simply too old and worn to meet modern safety standards. The median mileage of 43,982 miles is reasonable for a 37-year-old motorcycle, but the average failure rate of 0.02 per vehicle masks the reality: nearly every one of these bikes is failing on something.

If you're considering one, it's a restoration project or parts donor only—not a working vehicle. Walk through a pre-purchase inspection with a specialist Kawasaki mechanic and budget for a complete overhaul of brakes, electrics, and fuel system before even thinking about riding it.

MOT statistics not available

We have 131 1987 Kawasaki Z750 P5 vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

There are a few reasons this can happen:

Heavy commercial vehicle — trucks, buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes are tested under the DVSA annual HGV/PSV regime, which uses a separate database not included in our data source
Imported vehicles — vehicles registered abroad and recently brought to the UK may have no UK MOT history yet
MOT-exempt — vehicles manufactured before 1986 qualify under the 40-year rolling exemption; some specialist and agricultural vehicles are also exempt
Never used on public roads — some vehicles are registered but kept off-road and have never required an MOT

Check on the official DVSA service →

What tends to go wrong

Based on 131 cars. % = share of cohort with at least one match (advisories + failures combined).

~1 in 3 Exhaust & emissions

Exhaust noisy (37.5%)

~1 in 3 Tyre wear

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (25%) · front tyre starting to perish (6.2%)

💡 Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. A used-car inspection will confirm how much is left.

~1 in 10 Brake wear

Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn (12.5%) · Stop lamp remains on when the brake is released (6.2%)

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

~1 in 10 Suspension & steering

Rear Rear suspension bush has slight free play rear swinging arm bushes (12.5%) · Front Front wheel bearings are excessively rough (6.2%) · Rear Suspension arm modified and seriously weakened (6.2%) · …

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

~1 in 10 Lighting

Riders seat slightly loose (12.5%) · Headlamp aim too high (12.5%) · Centre Headlamp aim too low (6.2%) · …

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

~1 in 10 Other issues

Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (12.5%) · Horn not working (12.5%) · Registration plate insecure (6.2%)

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987. Counts include advisories and failures.

Before you buy a 1987 Kawasaki Z750 P5

Based on MOT data from 131 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% 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 →

Other model years — Kawasaki Z750 P5: All Z750 P5 years → Which year to buy? →

1988 1989 1990 1991

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

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See how the 1987 Kawasaki Z750 P5 stacks up against a rival.

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