Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Easy Rider M50?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Easy Rider M50?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Easy Rider M50?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2004 Easy Rider M50 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 102 vehicles, the 2004 Easy Rider M50 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Easy Rider M50?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Easy Rider M50 are: Exhaust noisy (27.5% of vehicles), Headlamp aim too low (10.8% of vehicles), Steering headbearing has slight free play (10% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Easy Rider M50?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Easy Rider M50 (2004)

102 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.2% first-time pass rate

2004 Easy Rider M50

CarHunch analysed 102 real MOT records for the 2004 Easy Rider M50. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2004 Easy Rider M50 passes its MOT on first attempt 83.2% of the time, which is a solid 3.2 points above the UK average of 80%—a sign of decent underlying reliability for a 20-year-old vehicle. Dangerous defects are rare, affecting just 3.9% of the cohort, so safety concerns aren't a major red flag here.

These machines are running relatively low mileage for their age (median 2,378 miles), which explains the good pass rate and suggests many are leisure or weekend riders rather than commuters. With an average of 0.61 failures and 1.2 advisories per vehicle, expect minor wear items to need attention, but nothing systemic—before buying, have any prospective purchase inspected on the lift to check suspension and brake wear.

We have limited data for the 2004 Easy Rider M50 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

83.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

3.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.61

Over 3.1 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

Middle half: 1k–4k

For context

These stats describe 102 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 102 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 27.5%

Exhaust noisy

Lighting 10.8%

Headlamp aim too low · Drive chain slightly tight · Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 10%

Steering headbearing has slight free play · Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect · Rear wheel bearings have slight free play · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Tyre wear 8.3%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 8.3%

Chain guard missing · Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user · Horn not working

Brake wear 6.7%

Rear Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 102 Easy Rider M50 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Easy Rider M50

Based on MOT data from 102 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 3.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Easy Rider M50 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

2,378

typical

772

low mileage

4,085

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Easy Rider M50 vehicles fall between 772 and 4,085 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 772 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 772–4,085 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Easy Rider M50s sit.

⚠ Over 5,514 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Easy Rider M50 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2004 Easy Rider M50s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024, 91% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2024.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

3.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.61

Avg failures per vehicle

1.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Easy Rider M50: All M50 years → Which year to buy? →

2003

Or browse all models: Easy Rider →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Easy Rider M50 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?