Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r?

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 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r?

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 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r?

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 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r reliable?

Based on MOT data from 329 vehicles, the 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r are: Exhaust noisy (90.8% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (61.3% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (46.9% 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 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r?

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 Zx 10r (2004)

329 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.2% first-time pass rate

2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r

CarHunch analysed 329 real MOT records for the 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 329 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2004 Kawasaki ZX-10R passes its first MOT test at 87.2%, which is a solid 7 percentage points above the UK average — a good sign of baseline reliability. Dangerous defects appear in just 13.1% of vehicles tested, which is acceptable rather than alarming, so you're unlikely to inherit a serious safety problem if you buy one.

These bikes have clocked up a reasonable 17,229 miles on average for their age, suggesting they've been used rather than garage queens, yet still hold together reasonably well through MOT. With 1.55 average failures and 5.2 advisories per test, the pattern is typical wear-and-tear rather than systemic weakness — so when shopping, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on chain condition, tyre wear, and brake fluid freshness rather than expecting hidden structural gremlins.

The 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (87.2% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ 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

87.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

13.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.55

Over 11.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 10k–21k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87.2% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 329 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 329 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 90.8%

Exhaust noisy

Tyre wear 61.3%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front 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.

Lighting 34.8%

Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Drive chain slightly loose · Rear reflector missing

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

Brake wear 30.3%

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

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

Suspension & steering 9.6%

Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

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 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 329 Kawasaki Zx 10r cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r

Based on MOT data from 329 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 13.1% 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 2,089 Kawasaki Zx 10r vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 43.6%

911

Black 36.7%

767

Silver 7.2%

151

Blue 4.3%

Orange 3.7%

White 3.1%

Red 0.5%

Multi-colour 0.3%

Grey 0.3%

Yellow 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r 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.

14,902

typical

10,456

low mileage

21,428

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r vehicles fall between 10,456 and 21,428 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 10,456 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.

✓ 10,456–21,428 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10rs sit.

⚠ Over 28,927 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 54% of 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10rs are still active.

92 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 54% 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

11.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.55

Avg failures per vehicle

5.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kawasaki Zx 10r: All Zx 10r years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Kawasaki Zx 10r stacks up against a rival.

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