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

SYM VOYAGER

125cc Petrol Class 1
#3705 of 5428 overall #21 of 78 SYMs #212 of 412 scooter bikes
79.4%
first-time pass rate
14.5%
failed outright
19,118
median miles at test
1,064
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+3.8pp
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 · 2009–2021

The VOYAGER's first-time pass rate has risen 5.7 points since 2009, 71.8% to 77.5%.

67%81%95%2009: 71.8% pass (39 tests)2010: 83.3% pass (54 tests)2011: 76.5% pass (98 tests)2012: 78.0% pass (123 tests)2013: 74.6% pass (122 tests)2014: 82.9% pass (111 tests)2015: 85.7% pass (112 tests)2016: 72.8% pass (92 tests)2017: 75.3% pass (77 tests)2018: 74.4% pass (43 tests)2019: 90.7% pass (43 tests)2020: 80.6% pass (31 tests)2021: 77.5% pass (40 tests)20092021

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage VOYAGER passes first time 90.4% of the time; by 50k that's 70.0%.

60%78%95%0k: 90.4% pass (240 tests)10k: 78.3% pass (318 tests)20k: 78.1% pass (256 tests)30k: 75.7% pass (144 tests)40k: 65.4% pass (52 tests)50k: 70.0% pass (30 tests)0k30k50k

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 VOYAGER

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
114 35.6 1.7×
tyres and wheels
67 20.9 2.7×
lighting and signalling
56 17.5 1.0×
steering and suspension
25 7.8 0.7×
lamps and reflectors
16 5 0.6×
fuel and exhaust
16 5 1.9×
suspension
9 2.8 0.9×
tyres
8 2.5 1.0×
reg plates and vin
5 1.6 0.7×
body and structure
4 1.2 0.6×

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 VOYAGER beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (PIAGGIO VESPA, HONDA PCX 125, HONDA Vision 110).

PIAGGIO VESPA 80.7% pass · 287k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA PCX 125 81.1% pass · 88.6k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA Vision 110 78.1% pass · 50.9k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA NMAX 125 82.2% pass · 33.8k 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 VOYAGER.

Compare with any bike

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

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: 2009 (84.2% pass). Weakest: 2006 (74.4%).

72%79%86%2006: 74.4% pass (277 tests)2007: 80.4% pass (158 tests)2008: 81.0% pass (321 tests)2009: 84.2% pass (222 tests)2010: 80.8% pass (52 tests)200620082010

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 VOYAGER FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the SYM VOYAGER reliable?

The SYM VOYAGER is more reliable than average for its class: 79.4% of its 1,064 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3705 of 5428 models.

What does a VOYAGER fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 36% of all defects recorded against failed VOYAGER tests.

What is the best year of VOYAGER to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2009-registered examples do best (84.2%) and 2006 worst (74.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VOYAGER last?

The median VOYAGER shows 19,118 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 70.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.

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