KAWASAKI VN 1600 B6F MEAN STREAK

1552cc Petrol Class 2

#1506 of 5426 overall #184 of 592 KAWASAKIs #915 of 2787 other bikes

88.3%

first-time pass rate

5.3%

failed outright

10,843

median miles at test

300

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN 1600 B6F MEAN STREAK's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN 1600 B6F MEAN STREAK passes first time 91.7% of the time; by 20k that's 91.4%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a VN 1600 B6F MEAN STREAK

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	6	18.2
lighting and signalling	6	18.2
brakes	6	18.2
Identification of the vehicle	3	9.1
lamps and reflectors	3	9.1
reg plates and vin	3	9.1
structure and attachments	2	6.1
tyres	2	6.1
tyres and wheels	1	3
steering	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 B6F MEAN STREAK beats 2 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 B6F MEAN STREAK.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (90.0% pass). Weakest: 2006 (87.0%).

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.