BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ YAMAHA/CG50
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

YAMAHA CG50

49cc Petrol Class 1
#4548 of 5428 overall #349 of 409 YAMAHAs #187 of 456 moped bikes
72.4%
first-time pass rate
20.7%
failed outright
4,932
median miles at test
623
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-5.0pp
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 · 2005–2011

The CG50's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.8 points since 2005, 72.5% to 66.7%.

64%72%81%2005: 72.5% pass (40 tests)2006: 72.2% pass (108 tests)2007: 67.8% pass (87 tests)2008: 69.1% pass (81 tests)2009: 70.8% pass (65 tests)2010: 77.8% pass (54 tests)2011: 66.7% pass (45 tests)20052011

What fails on a CG50

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
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

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the CG50 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 CG50.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the CG50

More YAMAHA models

other YAMAHA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
YAMAHA YZF-R1 84.1% pass · 232k tests
YAMAHA YZF-R6 79.0% pass · 155k tests
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests
YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests
YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests
YAMAHA FZ6 85.2% pass · 67.1k tests

See all YAMAHA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1989 (75.8%). Lowest: 2004 (58.3%). Every CG50 year compared →

55%67%79%1989: 75.8% pass (91 tests)1990: 73.3% pass (86 tests)1991: 67.3% pass (55 tests)2002: 73.2% pass (56 tests)2004: 58.3% pass (60 tests)198919912004

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

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

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 #4548 of 5428 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.

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