KAWASAKI VN1500 E2

1470cc Petrol Class 2

#1400 of 5426 overall #175 of 592 KAWASAKIs #854 of 2787 other bikes

88.6%

first-time pass rate

6.3%

failed outright

20,110

median miles at test

254

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN1500 E2's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN1500 E2 passes first time 92.7% of the time; by 30k that's 87.5%.

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 E2

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	11	36.7
lighting and signalling	6	20
steering and suspension	3	10
reg plates and vin	2	6.7
fuel and exhaust	2	6.7
lamps and reflectors	2	6.7
tyres and wheels	1	3.3
drive system	1	3.3
structure and attachments	1	3.3
body and structure	1	3.3

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the VN1500 E2 beats 3 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 E2.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1999 (90.5% pass). Weakest: 1999 (90.5%).

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.