KAWASAKI VN1600

1552cc Petrol Class 2

#1506 of 5426 overall #184 of 592 KAWASAKIs #915 of 2787 other bikes

88.3%

first-time pass rate

6.4%

failed outright

15,046

median miles at test

4,485

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2007–2025

The VN1600's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.5 points since 2007, 95.7% to 89.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN1600's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN1600 passes first time 90.7% of the time; by 50k that's 72.7%.

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 VN1600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	92	21.2	0.8×
brakes	82	18.9	0.4×
lighting and signalling	66	15.2	0.3×
tyres and wheels	51	11.8	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	32	7.4	0.9×
tyres	31	7.1	0.9×
steering and suspension	28	6.5	0.2×
reg plates and vin	23	5.3	0.6×
suspension	15	3.5	0.4×
Identification of the vehicle	14	3.2	1.4×

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 VN1600 beats 2 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 VN1600.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (90.0% pass). Weakest: 2003 (83.6%).

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 VN1600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI VN1600 reliable?

The KAWASAKI VN1600 is more reliable than average for its class: 88.3% of its 4,485 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1506 of 5426 models.

What does a VN1600 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 21% of all defects recorded against failed VN1600 tests.

What is the best year of VN1600 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (90.0%) and 2003 worst (83.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VN1600 last?

The median VN1600 shows 15,046 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 72.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.