Honda C50 MOT pass rate and common failures
Honda C50 motorcycles pass the MOT 93.78% of the time, measured across 209 tests in the DVSA record. A further 0.48% 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 on dipped beam - it accounts for 33.3% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check insecure and does not conform to the specified requirements, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (2.4% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 15,845 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 | 94.18% | 189 |
Why the Honda C50 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 on dipped beam | 33.3% | 4 | |
| 2 | Insecure | 16.7% | 2 | |
| 3 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 8.3% | 1 | |
| 4 | Does not operate immediately when selected on dipped beam | 8.3% | 1 | |
| 5 | Excessively loose | 8.3% | 1 | |
| 6 | Excessively tight | 8.3% | 1 | |
| 7 | Has ply or cord exposed | 8.3% | 1 | |
| 8 | Inadequately mounted | 8.3% | 1 | |
| 9 | Missing | 8.3% | 1 | |
| 10 | Not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions | 8.3% | 1 |
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 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 2.4% | 5 | |
| 2 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 1.9% | 4 | |
| 3 | Chain guard missing | 1.4% | 3 | |
| 4 | Excessively distorted | 1% | 2 | |
| 5 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 1% | 2 | |
| 6 | Inscription illegible | 1% | 2 | |
| 7 | Tread not clearly visible | 1% | 2 | |
| 8 | Ball joint excessively worn | 0.5% | 1 | |
| 9 | Component attachment bracket/mounting corroded and seriously weakened | 0.5% | 1 | |
| 10 | Component pin or bush excessively worn | 0.5% | 1 |
Honda C50 for sale
No Honda C50 in stock at the moment - 73 other Honda bikes are advertised.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piaggio VESPA 49cc · 48-50cc | 1,852 | 84.23% | 9,941 | |
| Piaggio ZIP · 51cc | 1,179 | 76.34% | 9,489 | |
| Peugeot KISBEE · 54cc | 1,096 | 72.72% | 9,978 | |
| Honda NSC 49cc · 49-50cc | 1,005 | 82.29% | 12,610 | |
| Peugeot SPEEDFIGHT 49cc · 49-50cc | 781 | 70.17% | 11,804 | |
| Lexmoto ECHO 50 E4 · 50cc | 530 | 61.51% | 6,253 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method