KAWASAKI VN 1600 A6F CLASSIC

1552cc Petrol Class 2

#854 of 5426 overall #98 of 592 KAWASAKIs #518 of 2787 other bikes

90.3%

first-time pass rate

6.5%

failed outright

12,068

median miles at test

217

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a VN 1600 A6F CLASSIC

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	10	30.3
tyres	6	18.2
lamps and reflectors	5	15.2
tyres and wheels	5	15.2
lighting and signalling	2	6.1
steering	1	3
Items Not Tested	1	3
Identification of the vehicle	1	3
steering and suspension	1	3
suspension	1	3

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the VN 1600 A6F CLASSIC beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, SUZUKI GSF1200).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the VN 1600 A6F CLASSIC.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2007 (90.4% pass). Weakest: 2006 (86.7%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.