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Aprilia RS 50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Aprilia RS 50 car check

Is the Aprilia RS 50 reliable? We analysed 20,050 real MOT tests across 3,382 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 20,050 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
65.6%
Typical Mileage
16,536mi
Annual Mileage
1,395mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Aprilia RS 50 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and wheel bearings have excessive free play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Aprilia RS 50.

Aprilia RS 50 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Aprilia RS 50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Aprilia RS 50 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Aprilia RS 50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

79%
2019
67.1%
2012
70.6%
2011
73.7%
2010
70.7%
2009
69.5%
2008
68.5%
2007
67.2%
2006
64.3%
2005
64.8%
2004
64.7%
2003
63.5%
2002
62.9%
2001
63.6%
2000
62.3%
1999
61%
1998
67.7%
1997

Aprilia RS 50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Aprilia RS 50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 1,304
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,096
wheel bearings have excessive free play 805
Drive chain excessively loose 679
Footrest missing 571
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 560
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 483
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 482
Direction indicator not working 394
Handlebar mounting clamp bolt loose 380

Aprilia RS 50 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Aprilia RS 50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
414 mi/yr
Typical
1,395 mi/yr
Average
2,283 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,968 mi/yr

Aprilia RS 50 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Aprilia RS 50 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2019 62 79.0% 3,592 4,594 6,834
2012 70 67.1% 5,883 10,056 18,445
2011 364 70.6% 6,742 9,388 13,532
2010 639 73.7% 6,209 9,488 12,935
2009 786 70.7% 6,151 9,346 13,020
2008 1,253 69.5% 7,149 10,556 14,791
2007 1,519 68.5% 6,952 10,626 15,214
2006 1,554 67.2% 9,774 14,883 21,413
2005 1,618 64.3% 11,380 16,650 24,131
2004 1,941 64.8% 10,761 16,781 23,474
2003 2,440 64.7% 11,206 17,247 24,438
2002 1,404 63.5% 13,357 19,901 26,323
2001 1,677 62.9% 13,981 20,805 28,240
2000 2,145 63.6% 16,390 22,610 30,182
1999 1,492 62.3% 15,550 22,273 30,088
1998 641 61.0% 17,015 21,980 30,294
1997 186 67.7% 15,592 22,951 29,496

How Long Does a Aprilia RS 50 Last?

Based on 3,382 Aprilia RS 50 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.6 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Aprilia RS 50 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Aprilia RS 50 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
16,536 mi
75th Percentile
24,361 mi
95th Percentile
38,669 mi
Max Recorded
634,179 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Aprilia RS 50

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2019

79.0% MOT pass rate from 62 tests

Year to avoid
1998

61.0% MOT pass rate from 641 tests

The best year to buy a used Aprilia RS 50 is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.0% across 62 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Aprilia RS 50 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Aprilia RS 50 THIS CAR 65.6% 20,050 16,536 mi 29 yrs
Aprilia Rsv 86.8% 87,683 13,065 mi 27 yrs
Aprilia RS125 70.2% 51,570 13,624 mi 31 yrs
Aprilia Tuono 89.5% 42,169 11,799 mi 24 yrs
Harley-davidson Flstc 90.6% 9,088 15,364 mi 30 yrs

Compared to the Aprilia Rsv (86.8% pass rate) and the Aprilia RS125 (70.2% pass rate), the Aprilia RS 50 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Aprilia RS 50?

The Aprilia RS 50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.6% across 20,050 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Aprilia RS 50 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (1,304 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1,096), and wheel bearings have excessive free play (805). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Aprilia RS 50 owner drives around 1,395 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Aprilia RS 50 models stay on UK roads for around 29 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Aprilia RS 50 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Aprilia RS 50 reliable?
Based on 20,050 MOT tests, the Aprilia RS 50 has a 65.6% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Aprilia RS 50?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and wheel bearings have excessive free play. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Aprilia RS 50 do per year?
The typical Aprilia RS 50 does around 1,395 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Aprilia RS 50 last?
Most Aprilia RS 50 models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 3,382 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Aprilia RS 50?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Aprilia RS 50?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Aprilia RS 50 is 2019 with a 79.0% pass rate across 62 tests.