BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ SUZUKI/AY50W
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SUZUKI AY50W

49cc Petrol Class 1
#4699 of 5428 overall #643 of 680 SUZUKIs #233 of 456 moped bikes
70.4%
first-time pass rate
22.0%
failed outright
7,376
median miles at test
1,692
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-3.4pp
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 · 2005–2015

The AY50W's first-time pass rate has risen 8.2 points since 2005, 74.2% to 82.4%.

57%72%87%2005: 74.2% pass (62 tests)2006: 71.1% pass (339 tests)2007: 71.0% pass (293 tests)2008: 71.0% pass (231 tests)2009: 62.4% pass (202 tests)2010: 73.0% pass (126 tests)2011: 69.0% pass (129 tests)2012: 77.8% pass (81 tests)2013: 68.9% pass (61 tests)2014: 65.5% pass (55 tests)2015: 82.4% pass (34 tests)20052015

What fails on a AY50W

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
392 39.2 2.9×
steering and suspension
194 19.4 2.5×
brakes
190 19 2.0×
fuel and exhaust
74 7.4 5.4×
tyres and wheels
73 7.3 2.0×
body and structure
30 3 3.0×
reg plates and vin
23 2.3 2.0×
Items Not Tested
9 0.9 3.2×
lamps and reflectors
9 0.9 0.3×
driving controls
6 0.6 1.5×

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 AY50W beats 2 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 AY50W.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the AY50W

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: 2001 (73.5%). Lowest: 2003 (57.4%). Every AY50W year compared →

54%65%77%1998: 69.9% pass (176 tests)1999: 72.3% pass (314 tests)2000: 67.6% pass (373 tests)2001: 73.5% pass (385 tests)2002: 69.8% pass (308 tests)2003: 57.4% pass (54 tests)199820012003

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 AY50W FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SUZUKI AY50W reliable?

The SUZUKI AY50W is less reliable than average for its class: 70.4% of its 1,692 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4699 of 5428 models.

What does a AY50W fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 39% of all defects recorded against failed AY50W tests.

What is the best year of AY50W to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2001-registered examples do best (73.5%) and 2003 worst (57.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum: a live Suzuki AY50W reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.