MOTO GUZZI V50

490cc Petrol Class 2

#2749 of 5426 overall #57 of 69 MOTO GUZZIs #1736 of 2787 other bikes

84.0%

first-time pass rate

8.0%

failed outright

31,921

median miles at test

2,712

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The V50's first-time pass rate has risen 9.3 points since 2005, 81.8% to 91.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the V50's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage V50 passes first time 83.3% of the time; by 50k that's 84.6%.

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 V50

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	156	31.5	0.9×
brakes	134	27	0.8×
steering and suspension	88	17.7	0.9×
tyres and wheels	35	7.1	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	23	4.6	0.3×
fuel and exhaust	20	4	0.9×
body and structure	14	2.8	0.9×
reg plates and vin	11	2.2	0.5×
driving controls	11	2.2	1.4×
tyres	4	0.8	0.2×

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 V50 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests YAMAHA FZ6 85.2% pass · 67.1k 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 V50.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1983 (91.2% pass). Weakest: 1981 (81.1%).

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.

MOTO GUZZI V50 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the MOTO GUZZI V50 reliable?

The MOTO GUZZI V50 is about average for its class: 84.0% of its 2,712 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2749 of 5426 models.

What does a V50 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 31% of all defects recorded against failed V50 tests.

What is the best year of V50 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1983-registered examples do best (91.2%) and 1981 worst (81.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a V50 last?

The median V50 shows 31,921 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 84.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.