KAWASAKI VN 900 B9F CLASSIC

903cc Petrol Class 2

#798 of 5426 overall #90 of 592 KAWASAKIs #489 of 2787 other bikes

90.5%

first-time pass rate

5.7%

failed outright

10,322

median miles at test

965

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2012–2025

The VN 900 B9F CLASSIC's first-time pass rate has risen 2.5 points since 2012, 87.9% to 90.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN 900 B9F CLASSIC's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN 900 B9F CLASSIC passes first time 92.1% of the time; by 30k that's 89.2%.

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 B9F CLASSIC

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	18	19.8	0.4×
lighting and signalling	18	19.8	0.4×
tyres and wheels	13	14.3	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	11	12.1	0.6×
tyres	11	12.1	1.5×
reg plates and vin	9	9.9	0.5×
structure and attachments	4	4.4	0.6×
steering	4	4.4	1.0×
Identification of the vehicle	2	2.2	0.9×
audible warning (Horn)	1	1.1	0.6×

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 B9F 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 B9F CLASSIC.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2009 (90.4% pass). Weakest: 2010 (90.2%).

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 B9F CLASSIC FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI VN 900 B9F CLASSIC reliable?

The KAWASAKI VN 900 B9F CLASSIC is more reliable than average for its class: 90.5% of its 965 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #798 of 5426 models.

What does a VN 900 B9F CLASSIC fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 20% of all defects recorded against failed VN 900 B9F CLASSIC tests.

How many miles will a VN 900 B9F CLASSIC last?

The median VN 900 B9F CLASSIC shows 10,322 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 89.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.