Norton Model 50 vs Yamaha RD350

The Norton Model 50 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha RD350 — 92.6% vs 86.3%, a 6.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Norton Model 50	Yamaha RD350
First-time pass rate	92.6%	86.3%
Outright fail rate	2.4%	6.6%
Median miles at test	30,636	23,256
MOT tests analysed	501	19,574
Most common failure	tyres and wheels	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.

NORTON MODEL 50 92.6% pass · 501 tests YAMAHA RD350 86.3% pass · 19.6k tests

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