BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HONDA/MELODY
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

HONDA MELODY

49cc Petrol Class 1
#3459 of 5428 overall #602 of 920 HONDAs #68 of 456 moped bikes
80.6%
first-time pass rate
11.1%
failed outright
4,384
median miles at test
997
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-1.6pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2018

The MELODY's first-time pass rate has risen 11.4 points since 2005, 72.5% to 83.9%.

69%80%90%2005: 72.5% pass (40 tests)2006: 76.2% pass (101 tests)2007: 77.9% pass (86 tests)2008: 76.0% pass (75 tests)2009: 77.5% pass (71 tests)2010: 86.8% pass (76 tests)2011: 81.7% pass (71 tests)2012: 81.2% pass (69 tests)2013: 77.0% pass (74 tests)2014: 79.4% pass (68 tests)2015: 78.2% pass (55 tests)2016: 83.3% pass (48 tests)2017: 86.5% pass (37 tests)2018: 83.9% pass (31 tests)20052018

What fails on a MELODY

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
118 41.7 1.4×
brakes
55 19.4 0.9×
steering and suspension
50 17.7 1.3×
tyres and wheels
30 10.6 1.2×
fuel and exhaust
12 4.2 1.5×
body and structure
7 2.5 1.5×
lamps and reflectors
4 1.4 0.2×
reg plates and vin
3 1.1 0.5×
driving controls
2 0.7 0.9×
Items Not Tested
2 0.7 1.1×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

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

PEUGEOT SPEEDFIGHT 65.2% pass · 83.7k tests Compare head-to-head →
PIAGGIO ZIP 71.3% pass · 79.0k tests Compare head-to-head →
PIAGGIO NRG 65.5% pass · 40.5k tests Compare head-to-head →
PEUGEOT VIVACITY 70.4% pass · 29.7k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 MELODY.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Melody

More HONDA models

other HONDA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HONDA CBR600F 81.7% pass · 202k tests
HONDA CBR900RR 83.2% pass · 166k tests
HONDA CBR1100XX 87.1% pass · 105k tests
HONDA CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests
HONDA C90 79.3% pass · 92.8k tests
HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

See all HONDA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1985 (88.7%). Lowest: 1984 (72.1%). Every Melody year compared →

69%80%92%1981: 81.2% pass (197 tests)1982: 80.1% pass (503 tests)1983: 86.9% pass (107 tests)1984: 72.1% pass (68 tests)1985: 88.7% pass (71 tests)198119831985

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.

HONDA MELODY FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA MELODY reliable?

The HONDA MELODY is more reliable than average for its class: 80.6% of its 997 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3459 of 5428 models.

What does a MELODY fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 42% of all defects recorded against failed MELODY tests.

What is the best year of MELODY to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1985-registered examples do best (88.7%) and 1984 worst (72.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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