Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Sym Shark?

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 2002 Sym Shark?

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 2002 Sym Shark?

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 2002 Sym Shark reliable?

Based on MOT data from 161 vehicles, the 2002 Sym Shark has a first-time MOT pass rate of 81.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Sym Shark?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Sym Shark are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (32.1% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (19.5% of vehicles), Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (15.6% 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 2002 Sym Shark?

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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Sym Shark (2002)

161 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.8% first-time pass rate

2002 Sym Shark

CarHunch analysed 161 real MOT records for the 2002 Sym Shark. 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 2002 SYM Shark's first-time pass rate of 65.5% is well below the UK average of 80%, signalling noticeably weaker reliability for this cohort. About one in ten of these bikes have recorded a dangerous defect, which is a modest but real concern for used buyers.

These Sharks are typically found with around 14,500 miles on the clock, which is low for a 22-year-old machine—a sign either of light use or potential storage issues. With nearly one failure and two advisories per vehicle on average, expect routine maintenance headaches; budget for tyre, brake, and exhaust work before committing to one, and always request full MOT history.

We have limited data for the 2002 Sym Shark — 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

81.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

10.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.99

Over 5.5 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 9k–23k

For context

These stats describe 161 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 161 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 32.1%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 13.9%

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey · Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey

Brake wear 13.6%

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies · Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick

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

Lighting 13.2%

Exhaust slightly deteriorated · Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam · Headlamp aim too high

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

Suspension & steering 7.9%

Steering headbearing has slight free play · Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 161 Sym Shark cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Sym Shark

Based on MOT data from 161 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.6% 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 2002 Sym Shark 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.

14,517

typical

8,786

low mileage

23,488

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Sym Shark vehicles fall between 8,786 and 23,488 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 8,786 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.

✓ 8,786–23,488 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Sym Sharks sit.

⚠ Over 31,708 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Sym Shark — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 33% of 2002 Sym Sharks are still active.

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (33% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

5.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.99

Avg failures per vehicle

2.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Sym Shark: All Shark years → Which year to buy? →

1999 2000 2001

Or browse all models: Sym →

Compare with another model

See how the 2002 Sym Shark stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?