Norton 50
Real ownership data from 169 UK 50 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common 50 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and indicators | fail | 15.5% |
| Other | fail | 12.2% |
| Brakes | fail | 4.1% |
| Tyres | fail | 3.7% |
| Suspension | fail | 2.8% |
| Electrical | fail | 2.9% |
| Steering and head bearings | fail | 2.4% |
| Fluid leaks | user entered | 2% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is suspension.
50 mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| Year | Examples | Median mileage | Miles/year | First-time pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 14 | 33,206 mi | 170 | 95.65% |
| 1960 | 25 | 16,403 mi | 272 | 93.1% |
| 1959 | 27 | 13,498 mi | 156 | 91.43% |
| 1958 | 14 | 28,872 mi | 102 | 86.79% |
| 1957 | 15 | 12,617 mi | 107 | 94.74% |
| 1956 | 5 | 28,278 mi | 165 | 93.75% |
50 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Norton 50?
Across 169 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are lights and indicators (15.5% of all recorded faults), other (12.2% of all recorded faults), brakes (4.1% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Norton 50?
The median Norton 50 in the UK has covered 23,846 miles, and typically rides about 156 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 4,329 and 40,166 miles.
Is the Norton 50 reliable?
92.78% of Norton 50 MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0.29 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 169 Norton 50 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.