BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ LAMBRETTA/LI150 SPECIAL
Model report · 2005–2025

LAMBRETTA LI150 SPECIAL

150cc Petrol Class 1
#825 of 5428 overall #8 of 49 LAMBRETTAs #27 of 412 scooter bikes
90.4%
first-time pass rate
4.6%
failed outright
2,054
median miles at test
1,091
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+11.0pp
vs expected · age & mileage

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

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2018

The LI150 SPECIAL's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (95.5% → 95.8%).

78%89%99%2006: 95.5% pass (44 tests)2007: 94.9% pass (39 tests)2008: 81.8% pass (44 tests)2009: 86.3% pass (51 tests)2010: 87.1% pass (62 tests)2011: 88.9% pass (63 tests)2012: 94.4% pass (72 tests)2013: 90.4% pass (83 tests)2014: 85.4% pass (103 tests)2015: 95.4% pass (108 tests)2016: 90.6% pass (128 tests)2017: 89.3% pass (140 tests)2018: 95.8% pass (71 tests)20062018

Pass rate by mileage

how the LI150 SPECIAL's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage LI150 SPECIAL passes first time 90.5% of the time; by 40k that's 91.2%.

83%89%94%0k: 90.5% pass (760 tests)10k: 92.6% pass (108 tests)20k: 90.2% pass (82 tests)30k: 84.6% pass (52 tests)40k: 91.2% pass (57 tests)0k20k40k

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 LI150 SPECIAL

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
38 34.5 0.6×
steering and suspension
23 20.9 0.5×
brakes
23 20.9 0.3×
tyres and wheels
7 6.4 0.3×
lamps and reflectors
5 4.5 0.2×
body and structure
3 2.7 0.6×
driving controls
3 2.7 1.2×
reg plates and vin
3 2.7 0.5×
tyres
3 2.7 0.4×
fuel and exhaust
2 1.8 0.2×

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 LI150 SPECIAL beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (PIAGGIO VESPA, HONDA PCX 125, HONDA Vision 110).

PIAGGIO VESPA 80.7% pass · 287k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA PCX 125 81.1% pass · 88.6k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA Vision 110 78.1% pass · 50.9k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA NMAX 125 82.2% pass · 33.8k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 LI150 SPECIAL.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the LI150 Special

More LAMBRETTA models

other LAMBRETTA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
LAMBRETTA LI125 87.4% pass · 21.3k tests
LAMBRETTA GP200 87.8% pass · 19.9k tests
LAMBRETTA LI150 88.8% pass · 19.3k tests
LAMBRETTA GP150 87.6% pass · 12.1k tests
LAMBRETTA GP125 86.7% pass · 11.7k tests
LAMBRETTA LI 87.7% pass · 8,752 tests

See all LAMBRETTA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1964 (93.4% pass). Weakest: 1965 (87.9%).

87%91%95%1963: 88.2% pass (102 tests)1964: 93.4% pass (349 tests)1965: 87.9% pass (231 tests)1966: 91.1% pass (190 tests)196319651966

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 LI150 SPECIAL FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the LAMBRETTA LI150 SPECIAL reliable?

The LAMBRETTA LI150 SPECIAL is more reliable than average for its class: 90.4% of its 1,091 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #825 of 5428 models.

What does a LI150 SPECIAL fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 35% of all defects recorded against failed LI150 SPECIAL tests.

What is the best year of LI150 SPECIAL to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1964-registered examples do best (93.4%) and 1965 worst (87.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a LI150 SPECIAL last?

The median LI150 SPECIAL shows 2,054 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 91.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.

Embed this bike

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