Kawasaki VN800 MOT pass rate and common failures
Kawasaki VN800 motorcycles pass the MOT 84.48% of the time, measured across 844 tests in the DVSA record. A further 8.77% 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 73.7% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls, 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 (20.4% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 22,950 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16+ years | 84.59% | 837 |
Why the Kawasaki VN800 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 | 73.7% | 42 | |
| 2 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 26.3% | 15 | |
| 3 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 26.3% | 15 | |
| 4 | Missing | 22.8% | 13 | |
| 5 | Flashing more than 120 times a minute | 15.8% | 9 | |
| 6 | Insecure | 15.8% | 9 | |
| 7 | Excessively binding | 12.3% | 7 | |
| 8 | Too high | 12.3% | 7 | |
| 9 | Too low | 12.3% | 7 | |
| 10 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 12.3% | 7 |
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 | 20.4% | 172 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 4.5% | 38 | |
| 3 | Excessively loose | 3.7% | 31 | |
| 4 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 3% | 25 | |
| 5 | Worn to excess | 2.5% | 21 | |
| 6 | Excessively binding | 1.9% | 16 | |
| 7 | Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced | 1.5% | 13 | |
| 8 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.3% | 11 | |
| 9 | Has a serious fluid leak | 1.2% | 10 | |
| 10 | Has excessive play | 1.1% | 9 |
Kawasaki VN800 for sale
No Kawasaki VN800 in stock at the moment - 1,110 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 S 1000 · 999cc | 8,445 | 91.96% | 15,282 | |
| Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc | 6,022 | 88.01% | 23,152 | |
| Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc | 5,720 | 90.98% | 16,130 | |
| Honda NC · 741cc | 5,311 | 89.53% | 22,765 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method