KAWASAKI VN1500 N2

1470cc Petrol Class 2

#314 of 5426 overall #30 of 592 KAWASAKIs #193 of 2787 other bikes

92.9%

first-time pass rate

4.7%

failed outright

15,439

median miles at test

339

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN1500 N2's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN1500 N2 passes first time 97.1% of the time; by 30k that's 97.2%.

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 N2

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	7	41.2
steering and suspension	2	11.8
tyres	2	11.8
tyres and wheels	2	11.8
reg plates and vin	1	5.9
lamps and reflectors	1	5.9
lighting and signalling	1	5.9
Identification of the vehicle	1	5.9

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 N2 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 N2.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2001 (95.6% pass). Weakest: 2002 (92.0%).

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.