HONDA SZX50S-1

49cc Petrol Class 1

#4478 of 5426 overall #853 of 921 HONDAs #172 of 455 moped bikes

73.2%

first-time pass rate

20.2%

failed outright

9,958

median miles at test

1,428

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The SZX50S-1's first-time pass rate has risen 3.4 points since 2006, 82.3% to 85.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the SZX50S-1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage SZX50S-1 passes first time 78.4% of the time; by 20k that's 57.3%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a SZX50S-1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	224	30	3.5×
brakes	221	29.6	2.3×
lighting and signalling	145	19.4	1.7×
tyres and wheels	67	9	2.1×
fuel and exhaust	30	4	2.4×
suspension	22	2.9	1.1×
lamps and reflectors	11	1.5	0.4×
reg plates and vin	11	1.5	1.3×
tyres	8	1.1	0.6×
driving controls	7	0.9	1.8×

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 SZX50S-1 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 SZX50S-1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (75.2% pass). Weakest: 2001 (68.8%).

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 SZX50S-1 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA SZX50S-1 reliable?

The HONDA SZX50S-1 is about average for its class: 73.2% of its 1,428 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4478 of 5426 models.

What does a SZX50S-1 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 30% of all defects recorded against failed SZX50S-1 tests.

What is the best year of SZX50S-1 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (75.2%) and 2001 worst (68.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a SZX50S-1 last?

The median SZX50S-1 shows 9,958 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 57.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.