Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Honda VFR400 vs Kawasaki ER5
The Kawasaki ER5 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR400: 77.4% vs 71.4%, a 6.0-point lead.
MOT reliability, side by side
| Metric | Honda VFR400 | Kawasaki ER5 |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 71.4% | 77.4% |
| Outright fail rate | 19.4% | 14.2% |
| Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) | -9.9 pts | -6.2 pts |
| Engine size | 399cc | 498cc |
| Rank among all models | #4618 of 5428 | #3999 of 5428 |
| Median miles at test | 34,011 | 21,259 |
| MOT tests analysed | 7,017 | 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.
"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.
What fails, side by side
| Component | Honda VFR400 | Kawasaki ER5 |
|---|---|---|
| Lights & signalling | 9.7% | 5.1% |
| Brakes | 8.5% | 6.0% |
| Steering & suspension | 8.6% | 5.4% |
| Tyres & wheels | 3.9% | 3.6% |
| Drive system | 2.1% | 2.3% |
| Structure & body | 2.7% | 1.3% |
| Fuel & exhaust | 2.4% | 0.8% |
A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.
Pass rate by test year
| Test year | Honda VFR400 | Kawasaki ER5 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 80.0% | 78.3% |
| 2019 | 86.6% | 77.1% |
| 2020 | 79.1% | 79.4% |
| 2021 | 81.4% | 78.2% |
| 2022 | 84.1% | 77.7% |
| 2023 | 89.5% | 78.2% |
| 2024 | 88.2% | 77.8% |
| 2025 | 90.4% | 79.6% |
Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.
Pass rate by mileage
| Mileage | Honda VFR400 | Kawasaki ER5 |
|---|---|---|
| 0k-10k miles | 81.0% | 87.5% |
| 10k-20k miles | 78.7% | 79.5% |
| 20k-30k miles | 70.6% | 75.4% |
| 30k-40k miles | 70.1% | 71.5% |
| 40k-50k miles | 70.2% | 71.1% |
| 50k-60k miles | 66.3% | 67.1% |
Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.
Honda VFR400 vs Kawasaki ER5 FAQ
Which is more reliable, the Honda VFR400 or the Kawasaki ER5?
The Kawasaki ER5 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR400: 77.4% vs 71.4%, a 6.0-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Kawasaki ER5 still comes out ahead: -9.9 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda VFR400, -6.2 for the Kawasaki ER5. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.
What does the Honda VFR400 fail its MOT on most?
Lights & signalling: 9.7% of Honda VFR400 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (8.6%).
What does the Kawasaki ER5 fail its MOT on most?
Brakes: 6.0% of Kawasaki ER5 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (5.4%).
Which holds up better at high mileage, the Honda VFR400 or the Kawasaki ER5?
They are level: at 50k-60k miles the Honda VFR400 passes 66.3% first time and the Kawasaki ER5 67.1%.
See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.