KAWASAKI VN1500 D2

1470cc Petrol Class 2

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

86.7%

first-time pass rate

7.6%

failed outright

17,834

median miles at test

2,160

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The VN1500 D2's first-time pass rate has fallen 8.5 points since 2006, 92.1% to 83.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN1500 D2's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN1500 D2 passes first time 90.7% of the time; by 40k that's 84.1%.

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 VN1500 D2

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	95	32.2	0.8×
lighting and signalling	58	19.7	0.5×
tyres and wheels	34	11.5	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	30	10.2	0.6×
steering and suspension	21	7.1	0.2×
fuel and exhaust	21	7.1	1.2×
reg plates and vin	11	3.7	0.8×
Identification of the vehicle	10	3.4	2.0×
tyres	10	3.4	0.6×
structure and attachments	5	1.7	0.3×

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 VN1500 D2 beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, SUZUKI GSF1200).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k 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 VN1500 D2.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2000 (94.6% pass). Weakest: 1996 (72.5%).

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 VN1500 D2 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI VN1500 D2 reliable?

The KAWASAKI VN1500 D2 is about average for its class: 86.7% of its 2,160 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1986 of 5426 models.

What does a VN1500 D2 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 32% of all defects recorded against failed VN1500 D2 tests.

What is the best year of VN1500 D2 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2000-registered examples do best (94.6%) and 1996 worst (72.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VN1500 D2 last?

The median VN1500 D2 shows 17,834 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 84.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.