VESPA (DOUGLAS) PK50

49cc Petrol Class 1

#3601 of 5426 overall #24 of 30 VESPA (DOUGLAS)s #76 of 455 moped bikes

79.9%

first-time pass rate

13.8%

failed outright

11,417

median miles at test

542

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2009–2022

The PK50's first-time pass rate has risen 3.4 points since 2009, 73.3% to 76.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the PK50's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage PK50 passes first time 82.5% of the time; by 20k that's 75.0%.

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 PK50

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	58	30.7	1.6×
brakes	41	21.7	1.3×
steering and suspension	30	15.9	1.4×
lamps and reflectors	18	9.5	0.8×
tyres and wheels	11	5.8	0.7×
body and structure	11	5.8	4.2×
fuel and exhaust	7	3.7	1.5×
suspension	6	3.2	1.0×
reg plates and vin	5	2.6	1.6×
Identification of the vehicle	2	1.1	1.6×

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 PK50 beats 4 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 PK50.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1988 (87.1% pass). Weakest: 1984 (68.0%).

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.

VESPA (DOUGLAS) PK50 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the VESPA (DOUGLAS) PK50 reliable?

The VESPA (DOUGLAS) PK50 is more reliable than average for its class: 79.9% of its 542 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3601 of 5426 models.

What does a PK50 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 31% of all defects recorded against failed PK50 tests.

What is the best year of PK50 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1988-registered examples do best (87.1%) and 1984 worst (68.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a PK50 last?

The median PK50 shows 11,417 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 75.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.