The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.
“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.
Pass rate over time
The PEOPLE's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.7 points since 2008, 85.3% to 80.6%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage PEOPLE passes first time 80.8% of the time; by 40k that's 74.4%.
First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.
What fails on a PEOPLE
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| brakes |
|
120 | 26.5 | 1.2× |
| lighting and signalling |
|
107 | 23.6 | 1.1× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
85 | 18.8 | 2.0× |
| steering and suspension |
|
43 | 9.5 | 0.6× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
31 | 6.8 | 0.8× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
21 | 4.6 | 1.2× |
| tyres |
|
19 | 4.2 | 1.4× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
10 | 2.2 | 1.0× |
| suspension |
|
10 | 2.2 | 0.7× |
| structure and attachments |
|
7 | 1.5 | 0.6× |
Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.
How rivals compare
On first-time pass rate the PEOPLE beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (PIAGGIO VESPA, HONDA PCX 125, HONDA Vision 110).
Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the PEOPLE.
Compare with any bike
More KYMCO models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2015 (88.7% pass). Weakest: 2007 (71.9%).
First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
KYMCO PEOPLE FAQ
Is the KYMCO PEOPLE reliable?
The KYMCO PEOPLE is more reliable than average for its class: 77.5% of its 1,780 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3977 of 5428 models.
What does a PEOPLE fail its MOT on most?
brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed PEOPLE tests.
What is the best year of PEOPLE to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2015-registered examples do best (88.7%) and 2007 worst (71.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a PEOPLE last?
The median PEOPLE shows 11,292 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 74.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
Embed this bike
Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live Kymco People reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.