BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KAWASAKI/VN 900 CBF CUSTOM
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KAWASAKI VN 900 CBF CUSTOM

903cc Petrol Class 2
#2469 of 5428 overall #281 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1544 of 2788 other bikes
85.1%
first-time pass rate
7.5%
failed outright
10,342
median miles at test
550
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-1.5pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2015–2025

The VN 900 CBF CUSTOM's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2015 (90.7% → 91.2%).

72%83%95%2015: 90.7% pass (43 tests)2016: 84.9% pass (73 tests)2017: 90.8% pass (65 tests)2018: 83.3% pass (54 tests)2019: 84.3% pass (51 tests)2020: 88.2% pass (34 tests)2021: 78.3% pass (46 tests)2022: 82.1% pass (56 tests)2023: 75.6% pass (41 tests)2025: 91.2% pass (34 tests)20152025

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage VN 900 CBF CUSTOM passes first time 90.1% of the time; by 20k that's 75.0%.

72%83%93%0k: 90.1% pass (262 tests)10k: 83.5% pass (188 tests)20k: 75.0% pass (84 tests)0k10k20k

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 CBF CUSTOM

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors
35 41.7 2.0×
brakes
15 17.9 0.4×
tyres and wheels
8 9.5 0.7×
lighting and signalling
6 7.1 0.3×
suspension
5 6 1.0×
tyres
5 6 1.3×
Identification of the vehicle
4 4.8 3.1×
structure and attachments
3 3.6 0.8×
steering and suspension
2 2.4 0.1×
steering
1 1.2 0.4×

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 CBF CUSTOM beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests Compare head-to-head →
BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 CBF CUSTOM.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the VN 900 CBF Custom

More KAWASAKI models

other KAWASAKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests
KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k tests
KAWASAKI ZZR600 79.0% pass · 53.7k tests
KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests
KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100 80.8% pass · 39.7k tests
KAWASAKI ZX 89.4% pass · 34.6k tests

See all KAWASAKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 2012 (88.0%). Lowest: 2011 (84.1%). Every VN 900 CBF Custom year compared →

83%86%89%2011: 84.1% pass (251 tests)2012: 88.0% pass (142 tests)2013: 84.1% pass (157 tests)201120122013

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 CBF CUSTOM FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI VN 900 CBF CUSTOM reliable?

The KAWASAKI VN 900 CBF CUSTOM is about average for its class: 85.1% of its 550 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2469 of 5428 models.

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

lamps and reflectors: 42% of all defects recorded against failed VN 900 CBF CUSTOM tests.

What is the best year of VN 900 CBF CUSTOM to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (88.0%) and 2013 worst (84.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VN 900 CBF CUSTOM last?

The median VN 900 CBF CUSTOM shows 10,342 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 75.0% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum: a live Kawasaki VN 900 CBF Custom reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.