Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 Piaggio Et2?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1997 Piaggio Et2?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1997 Piaggio Et2?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1997 Piaggio Et2 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 109 vehicles, the 1997 Piaggio Et2 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1997 Piaggio Et2?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1997 Piaggio Et2 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (32.5% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (27.5% of vehicles), Front wheel bearings have slight free play (27.5% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1997 Piaggio Et2?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Piaggio Et2 (1997)

109 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.2% first-time pass rate

1997 Piaggio Et2

CarHunch analysed 109 real MOT records for the 1997 Piaggio Et2. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1997 Piaggio ET2 passes its MOT just 30.4% of the time on first attempt—far below the UK average of 80%—which signals serious reliability concerns for a scooter now 27 years old. With only 8.3% of vehicles ever flagged for dangerous defects, safety isn't the primary worry; instead, the cohort struggles with routine wear and maintenance, averaging 0.71 failures and 1.4 advisories per test.

The median mileage of 11,228 miles is remarkably low for a vehicle this age, suggesting many examples have been poorly maintained or stored rather than regularly ridden, which explains why they fail so frequently when tested. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection by someone who knows Piaggio two-strokes well, as the repeated MOT failures point to neglect rather than fundamental design flaws—the right bike in the right hands could still be serviceable.

We have limited data for the 1997 Piaggio Et2 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

77.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

8.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.71

Over 3.8 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

11k

Middle half: 7k–17k

For context

These stats describe 109 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 109 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 32.5%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread not clearly visible · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 27.5%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies · Rear Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 27.5%

Front wheel bearings have slight free play · Front suspension has a slightly reduced damping effect · Rear shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Exhaust & emissions 12.5%

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Lighting 10%

Headlamp aim too low · Wheel alignment slightly misaligned.

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 109 Piaggio Et2 cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Piaggio Et2

Based on MOT data from 109 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Piaggio Et2 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

11,228

typical

7,020

low mileage

16,613

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Piaggio Et2 vehicles fall between 7,020 and 16,613 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 7,020 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 7,020–16,613 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Piaggio Et2s sit.

⚠ Over 22,427 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1997 Piaggio Et2 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 61% of 1997 Piaggio Et2s are still active.

11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2017 — 61% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2017.

MOT History Averages

3.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.71

Avg failures per vehicle

1.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Piaggio Et2: All Et2 years → Which year to buy? →

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Or browse all models: Piaggio →

Compare with another model

See how the 1997 Piaggio Et2 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?