Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Kawasaki Vn800?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1998 Kawasaki Vn800?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1998 Kawasaki Vn800?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 Kawasaki Vn800?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Kawasaki Vn800 (1998)

211 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.7% first-time pass rate

1998 Kawasaki Vn800

CarHunch analysed 211 real MOT records for the 1998 Kawasaki Vn800. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Average reliability 6.7% above UK average

86.7%

pass MOT first time

UK average: ~80%

16,602

typical mileage

10,650–23,957 middle half

18.5%

ever had a dangerous defect

recorded at any MOT

1.88

avg MOT failures per car

over 13 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1998 Kawasaki Vn800

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Kawasaki Vn800

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection

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Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Kawasaki Vn800 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

10,650

low mileage

16,602

typical

23,957

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Kawasaki Vn800 vehicles fall between 10,650 and 23,957 miles.

1998 Kawasaki Vn800 — Still on the Road

75 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 59% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.88

Avg failures per vehicle

5.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Kawasaki Vn800

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

73.9%

Exhaust noisy
57.5%

Exhaust noisy
37.5%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
31.8%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
25.7%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit
22.7%

Drive chain slightly loose
16.2%

Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm
13.8%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Kawasaki Vn800?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

Other model years — Kawasaki Vn800:

1995 1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005