LAMBRETTA LI

125cc Petrol Class 1

#1693 of 5426 overall #31 of 49 LAMBRETTAs #68 of 412 scooter bikes

87.7%

first-time pass rate

7.7%

failed outright

2,580

median miles at test

8,751

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2023

The LI's first-time pass rate has risen 5.6 points since 2005, 85.3% to 90.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the LI's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage LI passes first time 88.1% of the time; by 50k that's 93.3%.

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 LI

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	565	38	1.0×
brakes	376	25.3	0.7×
steering and suspension	271	18.2	0.8×
tyres and wheels	107	7.2	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	41	2.8	0.6×
body and structure	34	2.3	0.7×
driving controls	28	1.9	1.3×
lamps and reflectors	25	1.7	0.1×
reg plates and vin	25	1.7	0.5×
Items Not Tested	15	1	1.0×

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

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the LI beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (PIAGGIO VESPA, HONDA PCX 125, HONDA Vision 110).

PIAGGIO VESPA 80.7% pass · 287k tests HONDA PCX 125 81.1% pass · 88.6k tests HONDA Vision 110 78.2% pass · 50.6k tests YAMAHA NMAX 125 82.2% pass · 33.8k tests

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 LI.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1970 (92.4% pass). Weakest: 1972 (84.1%).

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.

LAMBRETTA LI FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the LAMBRETTA LI reliable?

The LAMBRETTA LI is more reliable than average for its class: 87.7% of its 8,751 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #1693 of 5426 models.

What does a LI fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 38% of all defects recorded against failed LI tests.

What is the best year of LI to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1970-registered examples do best (92.4%) and 1972 worst (84.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a LI last?

The median LI shows 2,580 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 93.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.