KAWASAKI VN900

900cc Petrol Class 2

#2120 of 5426 overall #243 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1301 of 2787 other bikes

86.3%

first-time pass rate

6.9%

failed outright

11,478

median miles at test

4,112

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2010–2025

The VN900's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.4 points since 2010, 90.9% to 84.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VN900's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VN900 passes first time 90.1% of the time; by 40k 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 VN900

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	116	23	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	95	18.8	1.0×
lighting and signalling	76	15.1	0.3×
tyres and wheels	57	11.3	0.6×
tyres	54	10.7	1.7×
reg plates and vin	39	7.7	1.2×
steering and suspension	24	4.8	0.2×
steering	18	3.6	1.0×
fuel and exhaust	13	2.6	0.4×
suspension	12	2.4	0.4×

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 VN900 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 VN900.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (89.3% pass). Weakest: 2006 (84.4%).

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 VN900 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI VN900 reliable?

The KAWASAKI VN900 is about average for its class: 86.3% of its 4,112 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2120 of 5426 models.

What does a VN900 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 23% of all defects recorded against failed VN900 tests.

What is the best year of VN900 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (89.3%) and 2006 worst (84.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VN900 last?

The median VN900 shows 11,478 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 87.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.