MBK NITRO

49cc Petrol Class 1

#5221 of 5426 overall #11 of 13 MBKs #382 of 455 moped bikes

59.8%

first-time pass rate

32.0%

failed outright

8,810

median miles at test

3,071

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2023

The NITRO's first-time pass rate has risen 11.5 points since 2005, 58.5% to 70.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage NITRO passes first time 64.9% of the time; by 20k that's 54.1%.

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 NITRO

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	1,363	42.3	5.5×
steering and suspension	693	21.5	4.6×
brakes	619	19.2	3.2×
tyres and wheels	156	4.8	2.2×
fuel and exhaust	142	4.4	5.4×
body and structure	73	2.3	4.5×
lamps and reflectors	60	1.9	0.7×
reg plates and vin	60	1.9	3.0×
Items Not Tested	42	1.3	13.4×
suspension	12	0.4	0.4×

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 NITRO beats 0 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 NITRO.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2005 (68.4% pass). Weakest: 2000 (56.8%).

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.

MBK NITRO FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MBK NITRO reliable?

The MBK NITRO is less reliable than average for its class: 59.8% of its 3,071 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5221 of 5426 models.

What does a NITRO fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 42% of all defects recorded against failed NITRO tests.

What is the best year of NITRO to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2005-registered examples do best (68.4%) and 2000 worst (56.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a NITRO last?

The median NITRO shows 8,810 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 54.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.