Kawasaki Versys 1000
Real ownership data from 4,617 UK Versys 1000 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common Versys 1000 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and indicators | major | 13.8% |
| Brake discs and pads | dangerous | 2.3% |
| Tyres | dangerous | 2% |
| Brakes | dangerous | 2% |
| Suspension | dangerous | 1.5% |
| Chain and sprockets | dangerous | 1.2% |
| Steering and head bearings | major | 1% |
| Other | dangerous | 0.9% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is brake discs and pads.
Versys 1000 mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| Year | Examples | Median mileage | Miles/year | First-time pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 138 | — | — | — |
| 2025 | 304 | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 331 | 5,079 mi | — | 100% |
| 2023 | 284 | 6,810 mi | 7,443 | 96.69% |
| 2022 | 339 | 7,858 mi | 1,556 | 94.44% |
| 2021 | 341 | 10,211 mi | 2,121 | 94.58% |
| 2020 | 268 | 12,247 mi | 1,848 | 92.7% |
| 2019 | 442 | 13,634 mi | 1,951 | 91.7% |
| 2018 | 334 | 15,029 mi | 1,755 | 92.1% |
| 2017 | 427 | 16,400 mi | 1,582 | 92.32% |
| 2016 | 364 | 18,574 mi | 1,710 | 87.77% |
| 2015 | 417 | 21,964 mi | 1,832 | 88.88% |
| 2014 | 168 | 21,524 mi | 1,641 | 89.69% |
| 2013 | 218 | 23,552 mi | 1,902 | 90.23% |
| 2012 | 231 | 25,649 mi | 1,778 | 88.73% |
| 2011 | 10 | 29,202 mi | 2,040 | 89.9% |
Versys 1000 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Kawasaki Versys 1000?
Across 4,617 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are lights and indicators (13.8% of all recorded faults), brake discs and pads (2.3% of all recorded faults), tyres (2% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Kawasaki Versys 1000?
The median Kawasaki Versys 1000 in the UK has covered 15,205 miles, and typically rides about 1,792 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 9,034 and 23,882 miles.
Is the Kawasaki Versys 1000 reliable?
90.63% of Kawasaki Versys 1000 MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0.41 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 4,617 Kawasaki Versys 1000 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.