Honda C50 vs Piaggio NRG

The Honda C50 passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio NRG: 81.7% vs 65.5%, a 16.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Honda C50	Piaggio NRG
First-time pass rate	81.7%	65.5%
Outright fail rate	10.6%	27.4%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+2.7 pts	-6.0 pts
Engine size	49cc	49cc
Rank among all models	#3241 of 5428	#4992 of 5428
Median miles at test	11,256	9,874
MOT tests analysed	6,237	40,458
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	lighting and signalling

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better

Component	Honda C50	Piaggio NRG
Lights & signalling	5.8%	15.0%
Steering & suspension	3.9%	15.5%
Brakes	2.4%	10.2%
Tyres & wheels	2.9%	4.7%
Fuel & exhaust	0.8%	3.8%
Structure & body	1.4%	2.5%
Drive system	0.9%	0.0%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Honda C50	Piaggio NRG
2018	81.4%	69.2%
2019	82.4%	68.0%
2020	81.6%	71.8%
2021	87.0%	72.9%
2022	87.1%	74.8%
2023	88.7%	77.5%
2024	87.3%	81.9%
2025	93.5%	77.1%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	Honda C50	Piaggio NRG
0k-10k miles	83.3%	71.3%
10k-20k miles	81.2%	60.6%
20k-30k miles	80.3%	55.7%
30k-40k miles	78.4%	57.0%
40k-50k miles	77.3%	60.8%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Honda C50 vs Piaggio NRG FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda C50 or the Piaggio NRG?

The Honda C50 passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio NRG: 81.7% vs 65.5%, a 16.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda C50 still comes out ahead: +2.7 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda C50, -6.0 for the Piaggio NRG. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda C50 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 5.8% of Honda C50 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (3.9%).

What does the Piaggio NRG fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 15.5% of Piaggio NRG MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (15.0%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Honda C50 or the Piaggio NRG?

At 40k-50k miles the Honda C50 passes first time more often: 77.3% for the Honda C50 vs 60.8% for the Piaggio NRG.

HONDA C50 81.7% pass · 6,237 tests PIAGGIO NRG 65.5% pass · 40.5k tests

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.