SYM HD vs Yamaha Nmax 125

The SYM HD passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha Nmax 125: 91.1% vs 82.2%, a 8.9-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	SYM HD	Yamaha Nmax 125
First-time pass rate	91.1%	82.2%
Outright fail rate	6.0%	11.4%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+18.1 pts	+9.5 pts
Engine size	171cc	125cc
Median miles at test	10,896	30,236
MOT tests analysed	168	33,779
Most common failure	brakes	brakes

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	Yamaha Nmax 125
0k-10k miles	94.7%	90.9%
10k-20k miles	93.3%	84.2%

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

SYM HD 91.1% pass · 168 tests YAMAHA NMAX 125 82.2% pass · 33.8k tests

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