BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ SUZUKI/AE50
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SUZUKI AE50

49cc Petrol Class 1
#4508 of 5428 overall #617 of 680 SUZUKIs #177 of 456 moped bikes
72.9%
first-time pass rate
20.6%
failed outright
5,686
median miles at test
1,372
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-4.4pp
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 · 2005–2016

The AE50's first-time pass rate has risen 3.6 points since 2005, 75.8% to 79.4%.

63%75%86%2005: 75.8% pass (99 tests)2006: 72.9% pass (258 tests)2007: 67.0% pass (185 tests)2008: 73.2% pass (149 tests)2009: 67.7% pass (124 tests)2010: 72.7% pass (99 tests)2011: 68.2% pass (85 tests)2012: 70.0% pass (80 tests)2013: 74.1% pass (58 tests)2014: 82.2% pass (45 tests)2015: 80.6% pass (36 tests)2016: 79.4% pass (34 tests)20052016

What fails on a AE50

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
256 34.3 2.6×
steering and suspension
200 26.8 3.5×
brakes
113 15.1 1.3×
tyres and wheels
79 10.6 2.4×
fuel and exhaust
48 6.4 4.3×
reg plates and vin
13 1.7 1.3×
lamps and reflectors
12 1.6 0.2×
body and structure
11 1.5 1.7×
suspension
8 1.1 0.6×
Items Not Tested
6 0.8 4.8×

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 AE50 beats 4 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 AE50.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the AE50

More SUZUKI models

other SUZUKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
SUZUKI GSXR600 76.7% pass · 149k tests
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests
SUZUKI GSXR750 79.8% pass · 99.2k tests
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests
SUZUKI GSXR1000 83.8% pass · 97.5k tests
SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

See all SUZUKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1998 (82.6%). Lowest: 1993 (66.0%). Every AE50 year compared →

63%74%86%1990: 73.6% pass (53 tests)1991: 67.0% pass (112 tests)1992: 69.3% pass (75 tests)1993: 66.0% pass (100 tests)1994: 73.7% pass (194 tests)1995: 74.3% pass (202 tests)1996: 68.2% pass (302 tests)1997: 75.6% pass (86 tests)1998: 82.6% pass (144 tests)1999: 75.5% pass (53 tests)199019951999

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.

SUZUKI AE50 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI AE50 reliable?

The SUZUKI AE50 is about average for its class: 72.9% of its 1,372 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4508 of 5428 models.

What does a AE50 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 34% of all defects recorded against failed AE50 tests.

What is the best year of AE50 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (82.6%) and 1993 worst (66.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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