KAWASAKI VN 900 B7F CLASSIC

903cc Petrol Class 2

#1369 of 5426 overall #170 of 592 KAWASAKIs #838 of 2787 other bikes

88.7%

first-time pass rate

6.4%

failed outright

10,742

median miles at test

1,586

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The VN 900 B7F CLASSIC's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.4 points since 2010, 89.7% to 86.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN 900 B7F CLASSIC's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN 900 B7F CLASSIC passes first time 92.2% of the time; by 40k that's 80.6%.

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 900 B7F CLASSIC

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	47	29.2	0.5×
lighting and signalling	27	16.8	0.2×
tyres and wheels	26	16.1	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	22	13.7	0.6×
tyres	12	7.5	1.0×
reg plates and vin	9	5.6	0.4×
Identification of the vehicle	6	3.7	1.6×
steering and suspension	5	3.1	0.1×
structure and attachments	4	2.5	0.4×
steering	3	1.9	0.5×

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 900 B7F CLASSIC beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 900 B7F CLASSIC.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (92.1% pass). Weakest: 2006 (84.9%).

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 900 B7F CLASSIC FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI VN 900 B7F CLASSIC reliable?

The KAWASAKI VN 900 B7F CLASSIC is more reliable than average for its class: 88.7% of its 1,586 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1369 of 5426 models.

What does a VN 900 B7F CLASSIC fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 29% of all defects recorded against failed VN 900 B7F CLASSIC tests.

What is the best year of VN 900 B7F CLASSIC to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (92.1%) and 2006 worst (84.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VN 900 B7F CLASSIC last?

The median VN 900 B7F CLASSIC shows 10,742 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 80.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.