KAWASAKI VN 900 C9F A CUSTOM

903cc Petrol Class 2

#1986 of 5426 overall #228 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1204 of 2787 other bikes

86.7%

first-time pass rate

6.9%

failed outright

11,770

median miles at test

782

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The VN 900 C9F A CUSTOM's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.8 points since 2012, 89.8% to 85.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN 900 C9F A CUSTOM's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN 900 C9F A CUSTOM passes first time 88.0% of the time; by 20k that's 82.1%.

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 C9F A CUSTOM

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	21	21.2	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	18	18.2	1.2×
tyres and wheels	13	13.1	0.6×
brakes	13	13.1	0.3×
suspension	10	10.1	1.2×
tyres	9	9.1	1.3×
reg plates and vin	5	5.1	0.9×
steering and suspension	4	4	0.2×
steering	4	4	0.9×
Identification of the vehicle	2	2	1.1×

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 C9F A CUSTOM beats 2 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 C9F A CUSTOM.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (87.9% pass). Weakest: 2009 (86.1%).

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 C9F A CUSTOM FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI VN 900 C9F A CUSTOM reliable?

The KAWASAKI VN 900 C9F A CUSTOM is about average for its class: 86.7% of its 782 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1986 of 5426 models.

What does a VN 900 C9F A CUSTOM fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 21% of all defects recorded against failed VN 900 C9F A CUSTOM tests.

How many miles will a VN 900 C9F A CUSTOM last?

The median VN 900 C9F A CUSTOM shows 11,770 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 82.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.