SYM Symphony vs Yamaha Nmax 125

The Yamaha Nmax 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the SYM Symphony: 82.2% vs 79.5%, a 2.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	SYM Symphony	Yamaha Nmax 125
First-time pass rate	79.5%	82.2%
Outright fail rate	13.5%	11.4%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+7.0 pts	+9.5 pts
Engine size	125cc	125cc
Rank among all models	#3687 of 5428	#3145 of 5428
Median miles at test	9,184	30,236
MOT tests analysed	840	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.

What fails, side by side

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

Component	SYM Symphony	Yamaha Nmax 125
Brakes	5.6%	5.3%
Lights & signalling	6.4%	4.2%
Steering & suspension	4.9%	5.0%
Tyres & wheels	3.9%	3.7%
Structure & body	1.3%	0.6%
Fuel & exhaust	0.1%	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 Symphony	Yamaha Nmax 125
2018	81.0%	86.3%
2019	77.1%	84.9%
2020	81.4%	88.4%
2021	80.7%	84.9%
2022	78.6%	83.5%
2023	75.3%	81.5%
2024	72.5%	79.8%
2025	95.9%	80.8%

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 Symphony	Yamaha Nmax 125
0k-10k miles	82.9%	90.9%
10k-20k miles	76.3%	84.2%
20k-30k miles	71.8%	81.9%
30k-40k miles	79.5%	79.2%

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

SYM Symphony vs Yamaha Nmax 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the SYM Symphony or the Yamaha Nmax 125?

The Yamaha Nmax 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the SYM Symphony: 82.2% vs 79.5%, a 2.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha Nmax 125 still comes out ahead: +7.0 points vs comparable bikes for the SYM Symphony, +9.5 for the Yamaha Nmax 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the SYM Symphony fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.4% of SYM Symphony MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (5.6%).

What does the Yamaha Nmax 125 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 5.3% of Yamaha Nmax 125 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (5.0%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the SYM Symphony or the Yamaha Nmax 125?

They are level: at 30k-40k miles the SYM Symphony passes 79.5% first time and the Yamaha Nmax 125 79.2%.

SYM SYMPHONY 79.5% pass · 840 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.