SYM Joyride vs Honda PCX 125

The Honda PCX 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the SYM Joyride: 81.1% vs 80.8%, a 0.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	SYM Joyride	Honda PCX 125
First-time pass rate	80.8%	81.1%
Outright fail rate	12.6%	12.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+9.9 pts	+8.2 pts
Engine size	125cc	125cc
Rank among all models	#3418 of 5428	#3358 of 5428
Median miles at test	13,756	16,405
MOT tests analysed	3,295	88,608
Most common failure	tyres and wheels	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.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better

Component	SYM Joyride	Honda PCX 125
Tyres & wheels	6.2%	5.3%
Brakes	3.4%	6.7%
Lights & signalling	4.7%	3.9%
Steering & suspension	2.8%	4.4%
Structure & body	0.8%	0.7%
Fuel & exhaust	1.2%	0.0%

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 Joyride	Honda PCX 125
2016	82.1%	82.5%
2017	81.6%	80.5%
2018	79.0%	81.2%
2019	80.6%	79.9%
2020	74.7%	82.3%
2021	83.8%	80.3%
2022	82.9%	80.3%
2023	83.7%	80.2%

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 Joyride	Honda PCX 125
0k-10k miles	86.2%	88.4%
10k-20k miles	80.2%	79.3%
20k-30k miles	76.9%	78.0%
30k-40k miles	72.6%	77.0%
40k-50k miles	74.4%	74.8%

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

SYM Joyride vs Honda PCX 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the SYM Joyride or the Honda PCX 125?

The Honda PCX 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the SYM Joyride: 81.1% vs 80.8%, a 0.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the SYM Joyride still comes out ahead: +9.9 points vs comparable bikes for the SYM Joyride, +8.2 for the Honda PCX 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the SYM Joyride fail its MOT on most?

Tyres & wheels: 6.2% of SYM Joyride MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (4.7%).

What does the Honda PCX 125 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 6.7% of Honda PCX 125 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (5.3%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the SYM Joyride or the Honda PCX 125?

They are level: at 40k-50k miles the SYM Joyride passes 74.4% first time and the Honda PCX 125 74.8%.

SYM JOYRIDE 80.8% pass · 3,295 tests HONDA PCX 125 81.1% pass · 88.6k tests

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