KAWASAKI VN1700

1700cc Petrol Class 2

#704 of 5426 overall #78 of 592 KAWASAKIs #429 of 2787 other bikes

90.9%

first-time pass rate

4.1%

failed outright

11,748

median miles at test

341

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2015–2017

The VN1700's first-time pass rate has risen 14.4 points since 2015, 79.4% to 93.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN1700's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN1700 passes first time 92.6% of the time; by 20k that's 87.0%.

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 VN1700

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	6	30
lamps and reflectors	5	25
tyres and wheels	4	20
lighting and signalling	2	10
reg plates and vin	1	5
tyres	1	5
Identification of the vehicle	1	5

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 VN1700 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA XJR1300, SUZUKI GSX1400, SUZUKI GSX1300R).

YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests SUZUKI GSX1400 88.3% pass · 56.8k tests SUZUKI GSX1300R 86.3% pass · 48.4k tests KAWASAKI ZX-12R 86.2% pass · 33.7k 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 VN1700.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (92.5% pass). Weakest: 2010 (88.0%).

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.