Piaggio VESPA LX 50 MOT pass rate and common failures
Piaggio VESPA LX 50 motorcycles pass the MOT 84.77% of the time, measured across 243 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.7% 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 28.6% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and excessively stiff or notchy, the next two most common reasons.
- Age matters here: 86.62% of 11-15 year old examples pass, against 81.4% at 16+ years - a gap of 5.2 points.
- The most common advisory is corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 11,570 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-15 years | 86.62% | 157 | |
| 16+ years | 81.4% | 86 |
Why the Piaggio VESPA LX 50 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 | 28.6% | 8 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 14.3% | 4 | |
| 3 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 10.7% | 3 | |
| 4 | Projected beam image obviously incorrect | 10.7% | 3 | |
| 5 | Too low | 10.7% | 3 | |
| 6 | Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced | 7.1% | 2 | |
| 7 | Has a major leak of exhaust gases | 7.1% | 2 | |
| 8 | Has a serious fluid leak | 7.1% | 2 | |
| 9 | Has negligible damping effect | 7.1% | 2 | |
| 10 | Lens seriously defective | 7.1% | 2 |
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 | Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced | 6.6% | 16 | |
| 2 | Tread not clearly visible | 6.2% | 15 | |
| 3 | Has excessive play | 3.7% | 9 | |
| 4 | Inscription illegible | 3.7% | 9 | |
| 5 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 3.3% | 8 | |
| 6 | Excessively binding | 2.9% | 7 | |
| 7 | Has negligible damping effect | 2.5% | 6 | |
| 8 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 2.1% | 5 | |
| 9 | Has excessive wear or free play | 1.6% | 4 | |
| 10 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 1.6% | 4 |
Piaggio VESPA LX 50 for sale
No Piaggio VESPA LX 50 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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