NORTON MODEL 50

350cc Petrol Class 2

#364 of 5426 overall #13 of 34 NORTONs #224 of 2787 other bikes

92.6%

first-time pass rate

2.4%

failed outright

30,636

median miles at test

501

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The MODEL 50's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (90.2% → 89.4%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the MODEL 50's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage MODEL 50 passes first time 94.5% of the time; by 50k that's 100.0%.

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 MODEL 50

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
tyres and wheels	7	30.4	0.7×
steering and suspension	6	26.1	0.3×
lighting and signalling	4	17.4	0.2×
driving controls	2	8.7	1.7×
brakes	2	8.7	—
fuel and exhaust	1	4.3	0.3×
body and structure	1	4.3	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 MODEL 50 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (SUZUKI AN400, SUZUKI DR-Z400S, YAMAHA RD350).

SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k tests YAMAHA RD350 86.3% pass · 19.6k tests KAWASAKI ZXR400 73.1% pass · 14.2k 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 MODEL 50.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1959 (95.7% pass). Weakest: 1960 (92.2%).

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.

NORTON MODEL 50 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the NORTON MODEL 50 reliable?

The NORTON MODEL 50 is more reliable than average for its class: 92.6% of its 501 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #364 of 5426 models.

What does a MODEL 50 fail its MOT on most?

tyres and wheels — 30% of all defects recorded against failed MODEL 50 tests.

What is the best year of MODEL 50 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1959-registered examples do best (95.7%) and 1960 worst (92.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a MODEL 50 last?

The median MODEL 50 shows 30,636 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 100.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.