Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6r?

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 6r?

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 6r?

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 6r reliable?

Based on MOT data from 912 vehicles, the 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6r has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6r?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6r are: Exhaust noisy (69.8% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (61.3% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (50.6% 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 6r?

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 6r (2004)

912 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.8% first-time pass rate

2004 Kawasaki Zx 6r

CarHunch analysed 912 real MOT records for the 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6r. 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

The 2004 Kawasaki ZX-6R passes its MOT on the first try 84.8% of the time, a solid 4.8 points above the UK average, suggesting these bikes have held up reasonably well over two decades. Dangerous defects turn up in 14.6% of examples tested, which is moderate for a sportsbike of this age and not a deal-breaker, though you should always have any purchase independently inspected.

The median mileage of 13,682 suggests many of these bikes have been well-used rather than garage queens, yet they still achieve above-average reliability. With an average of 1.81 failures and 5.1 advisories per test, expect minor wear items and consumables to need attention, but nothing catastrophic—budget for tyres, brakes, and chain maintenance on any used example you're considering.

The 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6r passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (84.8%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

84.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

14.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.81

Over 11 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

14k

Middle half: 9k–20k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.1 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 912 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 912 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 69.8%

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 39.5%

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 29.8%

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

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

Other issues 8.8%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height

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 912 Kawasaki Zx 6r cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6r

Based on MOT data from 912 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.6% 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 18,482 Kawasaki Zx 6r vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 47.1%

8,702

Red 14.4%

2,658

Black 13.4%

2,485

Blue 9.3%

1,715

Silver 8.4%

1,550

Yellow 3.5%

653

White 1.2%

213

Orange 0.8%

154

Purple 0.7%

136

Grey 0.6%

114

Multi-colour 0.5%

Gold 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6r 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.

13,682

typical

9,201

low mileage

19,596

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6r vehicles fall between 9,201 and 19,596 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,201 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.

✓ 9,201–19,596 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6rs sit.

⚠ Over 26,454 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 6r — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 48% of 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6rs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 221 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (48% 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.81

Avg failures per vehicle

5.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kawasaki Zx 6r: All Zx 6r years → Which year to buy? →

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Or browse all models: Kawasaki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Kawasaki Zx 6r stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?