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League table/ MBK/NITRO (Y050)
Model report · 2005–2025

MBK NITRO (Y050)

49cc Petrol Class 1
#5352 of 5428 overall #12 of 13 MBKs #416 of 456 moped bikes
53.9%
first-time pass rate
38.6%
failed outright
9,443
median miles at test
536
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-17.5pp
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 · 2006–2009

The NITRO (Y050)'s first-time pass rate has risen 4.1 points since 2006, 54.0% to 58.1%.

45%53%61%2006: 54.0% pass (139 tests)2007: 47.6% pass (124 tests)2008: 50.9% pass (112 tests)2009: 58.1% pass (43 tests)20062009

What fails on a NITRO (Y050)

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
325 46 7.5×
brakes
130 18.4 4.0×
steering and suspension
127 18 5.3×
fuel and exhaust
49 6.9 10.6×
tyres and wheels
32 4.5 2.7×
body and structure
19 2.7 6.2×
reg plates and vin
18 2.5 4.2×
lamps and reflectors
4 0.6 0.2×
Items Not Tested
2 0.3 4.1×
driving controls
1 0.1 0.8×

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 NITRO (Y050) beats 0 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 NITRO (Y050).

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Nitro (Y050)

More MBK models

other MBK bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
MBK OVETTO 67.6% pass · 4,903 tests
MBK NITRO 59.8% pass · 3,071 tests
MBK MACH G 65.3% pass · 2,103 tests
MBK BOOSTER 66.5% pass · 890 tests
MBK SKYLINER 65.9% pass · 763 tests
MBK YN50 OVETTO 65.4% pass · 587 tests

See all MBK models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2001 (67.6% pass). Weakest: 2002 (47.8%).

44%58%72%2001: 67.6% pass (71 tests)2002: 47.8% pass (161 tests)2003: 50.8% pass (197 tests)200120022003

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 (Y050) FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MBK NITRO (Y050) reliable?

The MBK NITRO (Y050) is less reliable than average for its class: 53.9% of its 536 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #5352 of 5428 models.

What does a NITRO (Y050) fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 46% of all defects recorded against failed NITRO (Y050) tests.

What is the best year of NITRO (Y050) to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2001-registered examples do best (67.6%) and 2002 worst (47.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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