BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ SYM Symply 50/vs Peugeot Vivacity
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

SYM Symply 50 vs Peugeot Vivacity

The SYM Symply 50 passes its MOT first time more often than the Peugeot Vivacity: 77.3% vs 70.4%, a 6.9-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric SYM Symply 50 Peugeot Vivacity
First-time pass rate 77.3% 70.4%
Outright fail rate 15.9% 21.7%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +5.8 pts -0.9 pts
Engine size 49cc 49cc
Rank among all models #4013 of 5428 #4699 of 5428
Median miles at test 9,866 11,162
MOT tests analysed 3,077 29,731
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.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component SYM Symply 50 Peugeot Vivacity
Lights & signalling 7.4% 11.5%
Brakes 7.3% 8.6%
Steering & suspension 4.8% 10.5%
Tyres & wheels 1.6% 4.4%
Fuel & exhaust 1.8% 1.9%
Structure & body 1.6% 1.6%

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 Symply 50 Peugeot Vivacity
2017 76.8% 71.8%
2018 73.3% 74.1%
2019 74.0% 72.0%
2020 71.1% 71.5%
2021 65.7% 73.6%
2022 74.7% 71.4%
2023 73.8% 72.7%
2025 86.8% 73.2%

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 Symply 50 Peugeot Vivacity
0k-10k miles 82.6% 76.6%
10k-20k miles 73.2% 67.9%
20k-30k miles 68.2% 60.8%
30k-40k miles 66.7% 60.0%

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

SYM Symply 50 vs Peugeot Vivacity FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the SYM Symply 50 or the Peugeot Vivacity?

The SYM Symply 50 passes its MOT first time more often than the Peugeot Vivacity: 77.3% vs 70.4%, a 6.9-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the SYM Symply 50 still comes out ahead: +5.8 points vs comparable bikes for the SYM Symply 50, -0.9 for the Peugeot Vivacity. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the SYM Symply 50 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 7.4% of SYM Symply 50 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (7.3%).

What does the Peugeot Vivacity fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 11.5% of Peugeot Vivacity MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (10.5%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the SYM Symply 50 or the Peugeot Vivacity?

At 30k-40k miles the SYM Symply 50 passes first time more often: 66.7% for the SYM Symply 50 vs 60.0% for the Peugeot Vivacity.

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