Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Honda City Express vs Piaggio Zip
The Honda City Express passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio Zip: 77.7% vs 71.3%, a 6.4-point lead.
MOT reliability, side by side
| Metric | Honda City Express | Piaggio Zip |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 77.7% | 71.3% |
| Outright fail rate | 14.8% | 20.4% |
| Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) | +4.1 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Engine size | 49cc | 49cc |
| Rank among all models | #3952 of 5428 | #4631 of 5428 |
| Median miles at test | 12,620 | 8,882 |
| MOT tests analysed | 14,367 | 78,993 |
| Most common failure | lighting and signalling | lighting and signalling |
First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.
"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.
What fails, side by side
| Component | Honda City Express | Piaggio Zip |
|---|---|---|
| Lights & signalling | 7.2% | 11.9% |
| Steering & suspension | 6.7% | 9.2% |
| Brakes | 6.4% | 6.5% |
| Tyres & wheels | 3.4% | 4.0% |
| Fuel & exhaust | 1.2% | 2.5% |
| Structure & body | 1.0% | 1.6% |
A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.
Pass rate by test year
| Test year | Honda City Express | Piaggio Zip |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 77.4% | 72.9% |
| 2019 | 77.9% | 73.0% |
| 2020 | 80.5% | 73.1% |
| 2021 | 83.3% | 73.3% |
| 2022 | 81.9% | 74.5% |
| 2023 | 80.7% | 74.1% |
| 2024 | 86.3% | 73.4% |
| 2025 | 81.4% | 76.2% |
Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.
Pass rate by mileage
| Mileage | Honda City Express | Piaggio Zip |
|---|---|---|
| 0k-10k miles | 81.7% | 75.2% |
| 10k-20k miles | 76.2% | 66.7% |
| 20k-30k miles | 73.9% | 64.4% |
| 30k-40k miles | 75.2% | 64.5% |
| 40k-50k miles | 75.3% | 65.4% |
| 50k-60k miles | 52.9% | 67.1% |
Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.
Honda City Express vs Piaggio Zip FAQ
Which is more reliable, the Honda City Express or the Piaggio Zip?
The Honda City Express passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio Zip: 77.7% vs 71.3%, a 6.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda City Express still comes out ahead: +4.1 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda City Express, -1.0 for the Piaggio Zip. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.
What does the Honda City Express fail its MOT on most?
Lights & signalling: 7.2% of Honda City Express MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (6.7%).
What does the Piaggio Zip fail its MOT on most?
Lights & signalling: 11.9% of Piaggio Zip MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (9.2%).
Which holds up better at high mileage, the Honda City Express or the Piaggio Zip?
At 50k-60k miles the Piaggio Zip passes first time more often: 52.9% for the Honda City Express vs 67.1% for the Piaggio Zip.
See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.