Piaggio PX 125 (VESPA) MOT pass rate and common failures
Piaggio PX 125 (VESPA) motorcycles pass the MOT 85.67% of the time, measured across 1,172 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.97% 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 82.7% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and too high, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (4.5% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 12,753 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16+ years | 85.65% | 1,171 |
Why the Piaggio PX 125 (VESPA) 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 | 82.7% | 81 | |
| 2 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 17.3% | 17 | |
| 3 | Too high | 15.3% | 15 | |
| 4 | Not working on dipped beam | 13.3% | 13 | |
| 5 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 11.2% | 11 | |
| 6 | Remains on when the brakes are released | 10.2% | 10 | |
| 7 | Incorrect colour | 7.1% | 7 | |
| 8 | Missing | 7.1% | 7 | |
| 9 | Has excessive wear or free play | 6.1% | 6 | |
| 10 | Insecure | 6.1% | 6 |
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 depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 4.5% | 53 | |
| 2 | Has excessive play | 4.4% | 51 | |
| 3 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 2.6% | 30 | |
| 4 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 1.5% | 18 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 1.5% | 18 | |
| 6 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 1.4% | 16 | |
| 7 | Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced | 1.3% | 15 | |
| 8 | Has excessive wear or free play | 1.1% | 13 | |
| 9 | Tread not clearly visible | 0.9% | 11 | |
| 10 | Excessively binding | 0.8% | 9 |
Piaggio PX 125 (VESPA) for sale
No Piaggio PX 125 (VESPA) in stock at the moment - 7 other Piaggio bikes are advertised.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha GPD125-A NMAX 125 · 125cc | 8,762 | 80.8% | 45,039 | |
| Piaggio VESPA 79-210cc · 79-210cc | 8,363 | 85.42% | 11,710 | |
| Honda WW · 125cc | 7,252 | 80.32% | 40,134 | |
| Honda WW 125 A-M · 125cc | 5,011 | 84.06% | 29,846 | |
| Honda GLR · 125cc | 4,737 | 79.99% | 14,642 | |
| Honda CBF 100-125cc · 100-125cc | 3,204 | 77% | 15,203 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method