SYM Fiddle 125 E5 vs Piaggio Vespa

The SYM Fiddle 125 E5 passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio Vespa: 86.9% vs 80.7%, a 6.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	SYM Fiddle 125 E5	Piaggio Vespa
First-time pass rate	86.9%	80.7%
Outright fail rate	10.0%	12.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+11.6 pts	+5.9 pts
Engine size	125cc	124cc
Median miles at test	4,625	10,023
MOT tests analysed	160	287,482
Most common failure	brakes	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.

SYM FIDDLE 125 E5 86.9% pass · 160 tests PIAGGIO VESPA 80.7% pass · 287k tests

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