BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Keeway F-Act 50/vs Piaggio Zip
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Keeway F-Act 50 vs Piaggio Zip

The Piaggio Zip passes its MOT first time more often than the Keeway F-Act 50: 71.3% vs 66.2%, a 5.1-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Keeway F-Act 50 Piaggio Zip
First-time pass rate 66.2% 71.3%
Outright fail rate 25.8% 20.4%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -7.7 pts -1.0 pts
Engine size 49cc 49cc
Rank among all models #4957 of 5428 #4631 of 5428
Median miles at test 5,966 8,882
MOT tests analysed 710 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

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Keeway F-Act 50 Piaggio Zip
Lights & signalling 13.7% 11.9%
Steering & suspension 10.6% 9.2%
Brakes 12.1% 6.5%
Tyres & wheels 4.1% 4.0%
Fuel & exhaust 3.9% 2.5%
Structure & body 1.8% 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

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested
Test year Keeway F-Act 50 Piaggio Zip
2010 72.5% 70.8%
2011 68.2% 69.7%
2012 57.8% 69.1%
2013 68.6% 69.7%
2014 69.2% 68.8%
2015 63.0% 69.8%
2016 67.3% 71.0%
2017 62.8% 71.7%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test
Mileage Keeway F-Act 50 Piaggio Zip
0k-10k miles 66.4% 75.2%
10k-20k miles 67.2% 66.7%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Keeway F-Act 50 vs Piaggio Zip FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Keeway F-Act 50 or the Piaggio Zip?

The Piaggio Zip passes its MOT first time more often than the Keeway F-Act 50: 71.3% vs 66.2%, a 5.1-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Piaggio Zip still comes out ahead: -7.7 points vs comparable bikes for the Keeway F-Act 50, -1.0 for the Piaggio Zip. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Keeway F-Act 50 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 13.7% of Keeway F-Act 50 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (12.1%).

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%).

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.