SYM Av vs Piaggio Zip

The SYM Av passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio Zip: 79.8% vs 71.3%, a 8.5-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	SYM Av	Piaggio Zip
First-time pass rate	79.8%	71.3%
Outright fail rate	13.2%	20.4%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+6.4 pts	-1.0 pts
Engine size	49cc	49cc
Rank among all models	#3628 of 5428	#4631 of 5428
Median miles at test	7,446	8,882
MOT tests analysed	2,362	78,993
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	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	SYM Av	Piaggio Zip
Lights & signalling	6.3%	11.9%
Steering & suspension	2.8%	9.2%
Brakes	4.7%	6.5%
Tyres & wheels	2.7%	4.0%
Structure & body	1.9%	1.6%
Fuel & exhaust	0.1%	2.5%

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	SYM Av	Piaggio Zip
2018	78.4%	72.9%
2019	76.5%	73.0%
2020	77.5%	73.1%
2021	81.5%	73.3%
2022	80.7%	74.5%
2023	82.0%	74.1%
2024	74.9%	73.4%
2025	87.6%	76.2%

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	SYM Av	Piaggio Zip
0k-10k miles	83.6%	75.2%
10k-20k miles	71.2%	66.7%
20k-30k miles	65.2%	64.4%

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

SYM Av vs Piaggio Zip FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the SYM Av or the Piaggio Zip?

The SYM Av passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio Zip: 79.8% vs 71.3%, a 8.5-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the SYM Av still comes out ahead: +6.4 points vs comparable bikes for the SYM Av, -1.0 for the Piaggio Zip. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the SYM Av fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.3% of SYM Av MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (4.7%).

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 SYM Av or the Piaggio Zip?

They are level: at 20k-30k miles the SYM Av passes 65.2% first time and the Piaggio Zip 64.4%.

SYM AV 79.8% pass · 2,362 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.