KAWASAKI VN 900 C8F CUSTOM

903cc Petrol Class 2

#2866 of 5426 overall #337 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1809 of 2787 other bikes

83.4%

first-time pass rate

8.8%

failed outright

9,505

median miles at test

865

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2025

The VN 900 C8F CUSTOM's first-time pass rate has risen 6.3 points since 2011, 80.9% to 87.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN 900 C8F CUSTOM's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN 900 C8F CUSTOM passes first time 85.1% of the time; by 20k that's 75.6%.

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 C8F CUSTOM

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	32	24.4	1.5×
lighting and signalling	23	17.6	0.5×
brakes	22	16.8	0.5×
tyres and wheels	15	11.5	0.8×
steering and suspension	10	7.6	0.4×
tyres	8	6.1	0.8×
reg plates and vin	6	4.6	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	6	4.6	0.9×
Identification of the vehicle	5	3.8	2.5×
structure and attachments	4	3.1	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 C8F CUSTOM beats 1 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 C8F CUSTOM.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (83.7% pass). Weakest: 2009 (82.2%).

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 C8F CUSTOM FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI VN 900 C8F CUSTOM reliable?

The KAWASAKI VN 900 C8F CUSTOM is about average for its class: 83.4% of its 865 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2866 of 5426 models.

What does a VN 900 C8F CUSTOM fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 24% of all defects recorded against failed VN 900 C8F CUSTOM tests.

How many miles will a VN 900 C8F CUSTOM last?

The median VN 900 C8F CUSTOM shows 9,505 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 75.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.