SYM AV MOT pass rate and common failures
SYM AV motorcycles pass the MOT 88.41% of the time, measured across 207 tests in the DVSA record. A further 2.9% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with not working - it accounts for 38.9% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls and has insufficient reserve travel, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread not clearly visible (7.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 9,460 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.
Pass rate by age
A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.
| Age at test | Pass rate | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-10 years | 86.47% | 170 |
Why the SYM AV fails
Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.
| # | Item | Of failures | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not working | 38.9% | 7 | |
| 2 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 27.8% | 5 | |
| 3 | Has insufficient reserve travel | 16.7% | 3 | |
| 4 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 6 | Operating incorrectly | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 7 | Tread not clearly visible | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 8 | Damaged and seriously weakened | 5.6% | 1 | |
| 9 | Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) | 5.6% | 1 | |
| 10 | Does not operate immediately when selected on dipped beam | 5.6% | 1 |
Most common advisories
Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.
| # | Item | Of all tests | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread not clearly visible | 7.2% | 15 | |
| 2 | Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied | 6.8% | 14 | |
| 3 | Is so short that the brake cannot be readily applied | 6.3% | 13 | |
| 4 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 3.4% | 7 | |
| 5 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 2.9% | 6 | |
| 6 | Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced | 1.9% | 4 | |
| 7 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 1.9% | 4 | |
| 8 | Has a major leak of exhaust gases | 1.9% | 4 | |
| 9 | Has excessive wear or free play | 1.9% | 4 | |
| 10 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 1.9% | 4 |
SYM AV for sale
No SYM AV in stock at the moment - 9,173 other SYM bikes are advertised.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piaggio VESPA 49cc · 48-50cc | 1,852 | 84.23% | 9,941 | |
| Piaggio ZIP · 51cc | 1,179 | 76.34% | 9,489 | |
| Peugeot KISBEE · 54cc | 1,096 | 72.72% | 9,978 | |
| Honda NSC 49cc · 49-50cc | 1,005 | 82.29% | 12,610 | |
| Peugeot SPEEDFIGHT 49cc · 49-50cc | 781 | 70.17% | 11,804 | |
| Lexmoto ECHO 50 E4 · 50cc | 530 | 61.51% | 6,253 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method