KAWASAKI AR50

49cc Petrol Class 1

#4715 of 5426 overall #572 of 592 KAWASAKIs #238 of 455 moped bikes

70.2%

first-time pass rate

22.3%

failed outright

13,979

median miles at test

964

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The AR50's first-time pass rate has risen 22.3 points since 2006, 59.5% to 81.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the AR50's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage AR50 passes first time 72.5% of the time; by 20k that's 72.2%.

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 AR50

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	353	45.7	3.8×
steering and suspension	162	21	3.5×
brakes	82	10.6	1.4×
drive system	47	6.1	4.6×
body and structure	42	5.4	6.3×
tyres and wheels	25	3.2	1.3×
lamps and reflectors	22	2.8	0.9×
fuel and exhaust	18	2.3	2.1×
reg plates and vin	12	1.6	1.8×
structure and attachments	10	1.3	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 AR50 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 AR50.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1994 (80.3% pass). Weakest: 1996 (58.9%).

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.

KAWASAKI AR50 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI AR50 reliable?

The KAWASAKI AR50 is less reliable than average for its class: 70.2% of its 964 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4715 of 5426 models.

What does a AR50 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 46% of all defects recorded against failed AR50 tests.

What is the best year of AR50 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1994-registered examples do best (80.3%) and 1996 worst (58.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a AR50 last?

The median AR50 shows 13,979 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 72.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.