KAWASAKI VN 900 CAF CUSTOM

903cc Petrol Class 2

#3219 of 5426 overall #378 of 592 KAWASAKIs #2047 of 2787 other bikes

81.8%

first-time pass rate

9.6%

failed outright

11,437

median miles at test

759

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2025

The VN 900 CAF CUSTOM's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.1 points since 2013, 84.9% to 80.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage VN 900 CAF CUSTOM passes first time 86.2% of the time; by 20k that's 78.3%.

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 CAF CUSTOM

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	38	26.6	2.2×
brakes	25	17.5	0.6×
tyres	22	15.4	3.1×
lighting and signalling	17	11.9	0.4×
tyres and wheels	14	9.8	0.9×
steering	8	5.6	2.2×
structure and attachments	7	4.9	1.0×
steering and suspension	5	3.5	0.2×
suspension	4	2.8	0.5×
reg plates and vin	3	2.1	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 CAF CUSTOM beats 0 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 CAF CUSTOM.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (83.0% pass). Weakest: 2011 (78.1%).

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 CAF CUSTOM FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI VN 900 CAF CUSTOM reliable?

The KAWASAKI VN 900 CAF CUSTOM is less reliable than average for its class: 81.8% of its 759 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3219 of 5426 models.

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

lamps and reflectors — 27% of all defects recorded against failed VN 900 CAF CUSTOM tests.

How many miles will a VN 900 CAF CUSTOM last?

The median VN 900 CAF CUSTOM shows 11,437 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 78.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.