BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ SYM/MASK 50
Model report · 2005–2025

SYM MASK 50

49cc Petrol Class 1
#3805 of 5428 overall #25 of 78 SYMs #89 of 456 moped bikes
78.8%
first-time pass rate
13.2%
failed outright
5,766
median miles at test
831
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+4.7pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2022–2025

The MASK 50's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.4 points since 2022, 84.8% to 78.4%.

77%82%86%2022: 84.8% pass (92 tests)2023: 78.4% pass (190 tests)2024: 80.4% pass (184 tests)2025: 78.4% pass (185 tests)20222025

What fails on a MASK 50

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
57 25.8 1.2×
lamps and reflectors
56 25.3 3.1×
suspension
20 9 2.6×
tyres
19 8.6 3.2×
structure and attachments
19 8.6 3.3×
lighting and signalling
17 7.7 0.2×
steering
12 5.4 2.9×
steering and suspension
11 5 0.4×
fuel and exhaust
5 2.3 0.8×
audible warning (Horn)
5 2.3 3.3×

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 MASK 50 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (PEUGEOT SPEEDFIGHT, PIAGGIO ZIP, PIAGGIO NRG).

PEUGEOT SPEEDFIGHT 65.2% pass · 83.7k tests Compare head-to-head →
PIAGGIO ZIP 71.3% pass · 79.0k tests Compare head-to-head →
PIAGGIO NRG 65.5% pass · 40.5k tests Compare head-to-head →
PEUGEOT VIVACITY 70.4% pass · 29.7k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 MASK 50.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Mask 50

More SYM models

other SYM bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
SYM JET 73.4% pass · 23.2k tests
SYM DD50 73.3% pass · 5,940 tests
SYM CITY HOPPER 71.4% pass · 4,446 tests
SYM JET 50 - EURO X 72.3% pass · 4,412 tests
SYM FIDDLE 76.6% pass · 3,826 tests
SYM SHARK 77.1% pass · 3,624 tests

See all SYM models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2018 (84.6% pass). Weakest: 2021 (71.8%).

69%78%87%2018: 84.6% pass (91 tests)2019: 82.1% pass (212 tests)2020: 81.2% pass (250 tests)2021: 71.8% pass (117 tests)201820202021

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 MASK 50 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SYM MASK 50 reliable?

The SYM MASK 50 is more reliable than average for its class: 78.8% of its 831 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3805 of 5428 models.

What does a MASK 50 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed MASK 50 tests.

What is the best year of MASK 50 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2018-registered examples do best (84.6%) and 2021 worst (71.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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