Pass rate over time
The CG50's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.8 points since 2005, 72.5% to 66.7%.
What fails on a CG50
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
151 | 43 | 3.4× |
| steering and suspension |
|
67 | 19.1 | 2.7× |
| brakes |
|
66 | 18.8 | 1.7× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
23 | 6.6 | 3.6× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
22 | 6.3 | 1.5× |
| body and structure |
|
10 | 2.8 | 2.7× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
6 | 1.7 | 1.7× |
| Items Not Tested |
|
4 | 1.1 | 7.0× |
| steering |
|
1 | 0.3 | 0.4× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
1 | 0.3 | 0.1× |
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
On first-time pass rate the CG50 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (PEUGEOT SPEEDFIGHT, PIAGGIO ZIP, PIAGGIO NRG).
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 CG50.
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 1989 (75.8% pass). Weakest: 2004 (58.3%).
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.
YAMAHA CG50 FAQ
Is the YAMAHA CG50 reliable?
The YAMAHA CG50 is about average for its class: 72.4% of its 623 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4546 of 5426 models.
What does a CG50 fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling — 43% of all defects recorded against failed CG50 tests.
What is the best year of CG50 to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 1989-registered examples do best (75.8%) and 2004 worst (58.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.