Honda VF400F vs Kawasaki ER5

The Kawasaki ER5 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VF400F: 77.4% vs 74.9%, a 2.5-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Honda VF400F	Kawasaki ER5
First-time pass rate	74.9%	77.4%
Outright fail rate	18.8%	14.2%
Median miles at test	32,736	21,259
MOT tests analysed	1,515	53,115
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

HONDA VF400F 74.9% pass · 1,515 tests KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.