BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ SYM Megalo/vs Honda PCX 125
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SYM Megalo vs Honda PCX 125

The Honda PCX 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the SYM Megalo: 81.1% vs 79.5%, a 1.6-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric SYM Megalo Honda PCX 125
First-time pass rate 79.5% 81.1%
Outright fail rate 13.2% 12.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +8.5 pts +8.2 pts
Engine size 125cc 125cc
Rank among all models #3687 of 5428 #3358 of 5428
Median miles at test 12,295 16,405
MOT tests analysed 1,524 88,608
Most common failure lighting and signalling 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 Megalo Honda PCX 125
Brakes 4.3% 6.7%
Tyres & wheels 5.4% 5.3%
Lights & signalling 5.9% 3.9%
Steering & suspension 1.5% 4.4%
Fuel & exhaust 2.2% 0.0%
Structure & body 0.3% 0.7%

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 Megalo Honda PCX 125
2013 75.0% 85.2%
2014 77.0% 84.4%
2015 84.4% 83.5%
2016 82.7% 82.5%
2017 86.0% 80.5%
2018 93.5% 81.2%

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 Megalo Honda PCX 125
0k-10k miles 85.5% 88.4%
10k-20k miles 77.7% 79.3%
20k-30k miles 72.9% 78.0%
30k-40k miles 72.9% 77.0%

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

SYM Megalo vs Honda PCX 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

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

The Honda PCX 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the SYM Megalo: 81.1% vs 79.5%, a 1.6-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (+8.5 vs +8.2 points against comparable bikes), so the raw gap is mostly down to how old and how used each fleet is. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the SYM Megalo fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 5.9% of SYM Megalo MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (5.4%).

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 Megalo or the Honda PCX 125?

At 30k-40k miles the Honda PCX 125 passes first time more often: 72.9% for the SYM Megalo vs 77.0% for the Honda PCX 125.

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