BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ TGB 202/vs Piaggio Zip
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

TGB 202 vs Piaggio Zip

The TGB 202 passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio Zip: 72.5% vs 71.3%, a 1.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric TGB 202 Piaggio Zip
First-time pass rate 72.5% 71.3%
Outright fail rate 17.6% 20.4%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -0.2 pts -1.0 pts
Engine size 49cc 49cc
Rank among all models #4542 of 5428 #4631 of 5428
Median miles at test 7,653 8,882
MOT tests analysed 4,670 78,993
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 TGB 202 Piaggio Zip
Lights & signalling 7.9% 11.9%
Steering & suspension 8.5% 9.2%
Brakes 7.6% 6.5%
Tyres & wheels 4.1% 4.0%
Fuel & exhaust 1.5% 2.5%
Structure & body 1.3% 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 TGB 202 Piaggio Zip
2018 69.7% 72.9%
2019 75.9% 73.0%
2020 75.9% 73.1%
2021 72.2% 73.3%
2022 78.6% 74.5%
2023 66.3% 74.1%
2024 85.4% 73.4%
2025 75.0% 76.2%

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 TGB 202 Piaggio Zip
0k-10k miles 75.8% 75.2%
10k-20k miles 66.1% 66.7%
20k-30k miles 65.8% 64.4%

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

TGB 202 vs Piaggio Zip FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the TGB 202 or the Piaggio Zip?

The TGB 202 passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio Zip: 72.5% vs 71.3%, a 1.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-0.2 vs -1.0 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 TGB 202 fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 8.5% of TGB 202 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (7.9%).

What does the Piaggio Zip fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 11.9% of Piaggio Zip MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (9.2%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the TGB 202 or the Piaggio Zip?

At 20k-30k miles the TGB 202 passes first time more often: 65.8% for the TGB 202 vs 64.4% for the Piaggio Zip.

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