BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KAWASAKI/VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KAWASAKI VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR

1552cc Petrol Class 2
#988 of 5428 overall #117 of 592 KAWASAKIs #605 of 2788 other bikes
89.9%
first-time pass rate
5.5%
failed outright
15,180
median miles at test
1,010
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+5.0pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2010–2025

The VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR's first-time pass rate has risen 2.7 points since 2010, 90.8% to 93.5%.

80%90%99%2010: 90.8% pass (65 tests)2011: 87.2% pass (78 tests)2012: 94.9% pass (79 tests)2013: 89.3% pass (75 tests)2014: 83.1% pass (77 tests)2015: 90.1% pass (71 tests)2016: 86.1% pass (72 tests)2017: 88.2% pass (68 tests)2018: 95.9% pass (49 tests)2019: 89.1% pass (55 tests)2020: 84.8% pass (46 tests)2021: 90.5% pass (63 tests)2022: 95.9% pass (49 tests)2023: 92.2% pass (51 tests)2024: 92.1% pass (38 tests)2025: 93.5% pass (46 tests)20102025

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR passes first time 91.9% of the time; by 40k that's 84.8%.

83%88%93%0k: 91.9% pass (284 tests)10k: 89.6% pass (364 tests)20k: 87.9% pass (165 tests)30k: 91.4% pass (105 tests)40k: 84.8% pass (66 tests)0k20k40k

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 D6F CLASSIC TOUR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
25 27.2 0.4×
tyres and wheels
16 17.4 0.7×
lamps and reflectors
14 15.2 0.6×
lighting and signalling
11 12 0.2×
tyres
10 10.9 1.3×
reg plates and vin
6 6.5 1.0×
fuel and exhaust
5 5.4 0.7×
steering and suspension
2 2.2 0.1×
Identification of the vehicle
2 2.2 0.9×
steering
1 1.1 0.2×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, SUZUKI GSF1200).

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

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 D6F CLASSIC TOUR.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the VN 1600 D6F Classic Tour

More KAWASAKI models

other KAWASAKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests
KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k tests
KAWASAKI ZZR600 79.0% pass · 53.7k tests
KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests
KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100 80.8% pass · 39.7k tests
KAWASAKI ZX 89.4% pass · 34.6k tests

See all KAWASAKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 2005 (94.2%). Lowest: 2007 (88.2%). Every VN 1600 D6F Classic Tour year compared →

87%91%95%2005: 94.2% pass (69 tests)2006: 89.8% pass (294 tests)2007: 88.2% pass (456 tests)2008: 93.0% pass (185 tests)200520072008

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.

KAWASAKI VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR reliable?

The KAWASAKI VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR is more reliable than average for its class: 89.9% of its 1,010 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #988 of 5428 models.

What does a VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 27% of all defects recorded against failed VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR tests.

What is the best year of VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2005-registered examples do best (94.2%) and 2007 worst (88.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR last?

The median VN 1600 D6F CLASSIC TOUR shows 15,180 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 84.8% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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