MBK Booster vs Piaggio Zip

The Piaggio Zip passes its MOT first time more often than the MBK Booster: 71.3% vs 66.5%, a 4.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	MBK Booster	Piaggio Zip
First-time pass rate	66.5%	71.3%
Outright fail rate	25.3%	20.4%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-7.7 pts	-1.0 pts
Engine size	49cc	49cc
Rank among all models	#4940 of 5428	#4631 of 5428
Median miles at test	7,184	8,882
MOT tests analysed	890	78,993
Most common failure	steering and suspension	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	MBK Booster	Piaggio Zip
Lights & signalling	14.6%	11.9%
Steering & suspension	16.0%	9.2%
Brakes	5.4%	6.5%
Tyres & wheels	4.3%	4.0%
Fuel & exhaust	3.8%	2.5%
Structure & body	1.2%	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	MBK Booster	Piaggio Zip
2007	65.8%	71.0%
2008	63.1%	72.4%
2009	60.5%	70.0%
2010	67.0%	70.8%
2011	63.8%	69.7%
2012	70.6%	69.1%
2013	64.4%	69.7%
2014	63.9%	68.8%

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	MBK Booster	Piaggio Zip
0k-10k miles	66.2%	75.2%
10k-20k miles	67.2%	66.7%

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

MBK Booster vs Piaggio Zip FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the MBK Booster or the Piaggio Zip?

The Piaggio Zip passes its MOT first time more often than the MBK Booster: 71.3% vs 66.5%, a 4.8-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Piaggio Zip still comes out ahead: -7.7 points vs comparable bikes for the MBK Booster, -1.0 for the Piaggio Zip. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the MBK Booster fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 16.0% of MBK Booster MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (14.6%).

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%).

MBK BOOSTER 66.5% pass · 890 tests PIAGGIO ZIP 71.3% pass · 79.0k tests

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