DIRECT BIKES DB50

49cc Petrol Class 1

67.7%

first-time pass rate

19.7%

failed outright

3,916

median miles at test

127

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a DB50

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	34	47.2
brakes	12	16.7
steering and suspension	9	12.5
tyres and wheels	8	11.1
lamps and reflectors	2	2.8
body and structure	2	2.8
fuel and exhaust	2	2.8
steering and suspension	1	1.4
steering	1	1.4
Items Not Tested	1	1.4

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the DB50 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (PEUGEOT SPEEDFIGHT, PIAGGIO ZIP, PIAGGIO NRG).

PEUGEOT SPEEDFIGHT 65.2% pass · 83.7k tests PIAGGIO ZIP 71.3% pass · 79.0k tests PIAGGIO NRG 65.5% pass · 40.5k tests PEUGEOT VIVACITY 70.4% pass · 29.7k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the DB50.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2010 (72.5% pass). Weakest: 2010 (72.5%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.