MBK ROCKET

49cc Petrol Class 1

#4938 of 5426 overall #5 of 13 MBKs #296 of 455 moped bikes

66.5%

first-time pass rate

26.5%

failed outright

7,558

median miles at test

543

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2012

The ROCKET's first-time pass rate has fallen 18.8 points since 2006, 70.3% to 51.5%.

What fails on a ROCKET

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	149	34.5	4.3×
steering and suspension	129	29.9	4.3×
brakes	70	16.2	2.1×
tyres and wheels	38	8.8	2.5×
fuel and exhaust	20	4.6	4.1×
reg plates and vin	8	1.9	2.6×
body and structure	7	1.6	2.7×
Items Not Tested	6	1.4	6.0×
tyres	3	0.7	0.5×
structure and attachments	2	0.5	0.3×

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 ROCKET 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 ROCKET.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2001 (71.4% pass). Weakest: 1998 (62.7%).

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 ROCKET FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MBK ROCKET reliable?

The MBK ROCKET is less reliable than average for its class: 66.5% of its 543 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4938 of 5426 models.

What does a ROCKET fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 34% of all defects recorded against failed ROCKET tests.

What is the best year of ROCKET to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2001-registered examples do best (71.4%) and 1998 worst (62.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.