BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ KAWASAKI/VN1500 G2
Model report · 2005–2025

KAWASAKI VN1500 G2

1470cc Petrol Class 2
#1854 of 5426 overall #219 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1122 of 2787 other bikes
87.2%
first-time pass rate
5.8%
failed outright
16,081
median miles at test
499
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2015

The VN1500 G2's first-time pass rate has fallen 15.8 points since 2006, 93.9% to 78.1%.

73%86%98%2006: 93.9% pass (33 tests)2007: 91.2% pass (34 tests)2008: 88.2% pass (34 tests)2009: 90.9% pass (33 tests)2010: 85.3% pass (34 tests)2011: 93.5% pass (31 tests)2013: 77.4% pass (31 tests)2014: 90.0% pass (30 tests)2015: 78.1% pass (32 tests)20062015

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN1500 G2's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN1500 G2 passes first time 90.9% of the time; by 30k that's 80.0%.

78%85%93%0k: 90.9% pass (132 tests)10k: 85.3% pass (177 tests)20k: 89.2% pass (102 tests)30k: 80.0% pass (45 tests)0k20k30k

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 G2

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
lighting and signalling
19 33.3
brakes
8 14
tyres and wheels
7 12.3
Other
6 10.5
body and structure
4 7
fuel and exhaust
4 7
lamps and reflectors
4 7
steering and suspension
2 3.5
tyres
2 3.5
structure and attachments
1 1.8

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 G2 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 G2.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1999 (87.2% pass). Weakest: 1999 (87.2%).

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.