HONDA ST50-K

49cc Petrol Class 1

#587 of 5426 overall #69 of 921 HONDAs #5 of 455 moped bikes

91.4%

first-time pass rate

4.0%

failed outright

3,146

median miles at test

607

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The ST50-K's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (92.5% → 93.5%).

What fails on a ST50-K

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	31	48.4	0.5×
drive system	6	9.4	0.9×
steering and suspension	6	9.4	0.3×
tyres and wheels	4	6.2	0.2×
brakes	4	6.2	0.2×
reg plates and vin	4	6.2	1.2×
structure and attachments	3	4.7	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	3	4.7	0.2×
fuel and exhaust	2	3.1	0.4×
audible warning (Horn)	1	1.6	0.9×

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 ST50-K beats 4 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 ST50-K.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1994 (98.5% pass). Weakest: 1992 (81.2%).

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 ST50-K FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA ST50-K reliable?

The HONDA ST50-K is more reliable than average for its class: 91.4% of its 607 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #587 of 5426 models.

What does a ST50-K fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 48% of all defects recorded against failed ST50-K tests.

What is the best year of ST50-K to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1994-registered examples do best (98.5%) and 1992 worst (81.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.