SYM HD vs Piaggio PX 125 (vespa)

The SYM HD passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio PX 125 (vespa): 91.1% vs 81.0%, a 10.1-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	SYM HD	Piaggio PX 125 (vespa)
First-time pass rate	91.1%	81.0%
Outright fail rate	6.0%	11.3%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+18.1 pts	+8.1 pts
Engine size	171cc	124cc
Median miles at test	10,896	9,868
MOT tests analysed	168	33,171
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.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	SYM HD	Piaggio PX 125 (vespa)
0k-10k miles	94.7%	83.0%
10k-20k miles	93.3%	79.5%

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

SYM HD 91.1% pass · 168 tests PIAGGIO PX 125 (VESPA) 81.0% pass · 33.2k tests

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