SYM HD ORBIT

125cc Petrol Class 1

#3146 of 5426 overall #12 of 78 SYMs #160 of 412 scooter bikes

82.2%

first-time pass rate

11.1%

failed outright

13,396

median miles at test

667

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2009–2018

The HD ORBIT's first-time pass rate has fallen 13.5 points since 2009, 77.1% to 63.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the HD ORBIT's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage HD ORBIT passes first time 84.2% of the time; by 40k that's 73.3%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a HD ORBIT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	41	31.3	1.0×
lighting and signalling	26	19.8	0.8×
tyres and wheels	22	16.8	1.5×
lamps and reflectors	10	7.6	0.7×
steering and suspension	9	6.9	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	6	4.6	1.0×
suspension	5	3.8	1.0×
structure and attachments	5	3.8	0.7×
tyres	4	3.1	0.7×
body and structure	3	2.3	0.9×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the HD ORBIT beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (PIAGGIO VESPA, HONDA PCX 125, HONDA Vision 110).

PIAGGIO VESPA 80.7% pass · 287k tests HONDA PCX 125 81.1% pass · 88.6k tests HONDA Vision 110 78.2% pass · 50.6k tests YAMAHA NMAX 125 82.2% pass · 33.8k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the HD ORBIT.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2008 (90.4% pass). Weakest: 2005 (75.7%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

SYM HD ORBIT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SYM HD ORBIT reliable?

The SYM HD ORBIT is more reliable than average for its class: 82.2% of its 667 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3146 of 5426 models.

What does a HD ORBIT fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 31% of all defects recorded against failed HD ORBIT tests.

What is the best year of HD ORBIT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (90.4%) and 2005 worst (75.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a HD ORBIT last?

The median HD ORBIT shows 13,396 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 73.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.