Kawasaki VN MOT pass rate and common failures
Kawasaki VN motorcycles pass the MOT 86.37% of the time, measured across 543 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.08% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with not working - it accounts for 41.5% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s), the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (9.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 14,723 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.
Pass rate by age
A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.
| Age at test | Pass rate | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-10 years | 85.19% | 351 | |
| 11-15 years | 90.83% | 109 | |
| 16+ years | 85% | 80 |
Why the Kawasaki VN fails
Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.
| # | Item | Of failures | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not working | 41.5% | 17 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 22% | 9 | |
| 3 | Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) | 17.1% | 7 | |
| 4 | Has a serious fluid leak | 14.6% | 6 | |
| 5 | Too low | 12.2% | 5 | |
| 6 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 9.8% | 4 | |
| 7 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 9.8% | 4 | |
| 8 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 9.8% | 4 | |
| 9 | Excessively binding | 7.3% | 3 | |
| 10 | Grip insecure to handlebar | 7.3% | 3 |
Most common advisories
Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.
| # | Item | Of all tests | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 9.6% | 52 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 5.5% | 30 | |
| 3 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 4.4% | 24 | |
| 4 | Has a serious fluid leak | 1.8% | 10 | |
| 5 | Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced | 1.3% | 7 | |
| 6 | Inscription illegible | 1.3% | 7 | |
| 7 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.3% | 7 | |
| 8 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 1.1% | 6 | |
| 9 | Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied | 1.1% | 6 | |
| 10 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 0.9% | 5 |
Kawasaki VN for sale
No Kawasaki VN in stock at the moment - 1,109 other Kawasaki bikes are advertised.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph TIGER · 969cc | 16,144 | 91.27% | 22,934 | |
| Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc | 12,456 | 90.8% | 12,824 | |
| BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc | 9,796 | 91.92% | 40,594 | |
| BMW R1200 · 1,170cc | 9,521 | 94.43% | 28,830 | |
| BMW S 1000 · 999cc | 8,445 | 91.96% | 15,282 | |
| BMW R1250 · 1,254cc | 6,764 | 96.17% | 17,373 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method