BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ PIAGGIO/SFERA 125
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

PIAGGIO SFERA 125

124cc Petrol Class 1
#4096 of 5428 overall #95 of 136 PIAGGIOs #248 of 412 scooter bikes
76.7%
first-time pass rate
15.4%
failed outright
9,612
median miles at test
784
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+2.7pp
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 · 2005–2013

The SFERA 125's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.3 points since 2005, 81.3% to 80.0%.

62%74%85%2005: 81.3% pass (32 tests)2006: 76.4% pass (140 tests)2007: 79.1% pass (110 tests)2008: 77.8% pass (81 tests)2009: 78.4% pass (74 tests)2010: 66.2% pass (68 tests)2011: 75.4% pass (61 tests)2012: 66.7% pass (51 tests)2013: 80.0% pass (35 tests)20052013

What fails on a SFERA 125

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
109 37.6 2.0×
brakes
61 21 1.5×
tyres and wheels
40 13.8 2.3×
steering and suspension
33 11.4 1.0×
fuel and exhaust
24 8.3 3.7×
body and structure
9 3.1 2.4×
structure and attachments
5 1.7 0.7×
reg plates and vin
3 1 0.7×
lamps and reflectors
3 1 0.2×
tyres
3 1 0.4×

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 SFERA 125 beats 0 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 SFERA 125.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Sfera 125

More PIAGGIO models

other PIAGGIO bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
PIAGGIO VESPA 80.7% pass · 287k tests
PIAGGIO ZIP 71.3% pass · 79.0k tests
PIAGGIO NRG 65.5% pass · 40.5k tests
PIAGGIO PX 125 (VESPA) 81.0% pass · 33.2k tests
PIAGGIO PX 200 E 86.5% pass · 28.4k tests
PIAGGIO ET2 73.6% pass · 25.0k tests

See all PIAGGIO models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1996 (81.9%). Lowest: 1997 (73.0%). Every Sfera 125 year compared →

71%77%84%1996: 81.9% pass (276 tests)1997: 73.0% pass (330 tests)1998: 75.4% pass (134 tests)199619971998

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.

PIAGGIO SFERA 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the PIAGGIO SFERA 125 reliable?

The PIAGGIO SFERA 125 is more reliable than average for its class: 76.7% of its 784 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #4096 of 5428 models.

What does a SFERA 125 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 38% of all defects recorded against failed SFERA 125 tests.

What is the best year of SFERA 125 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1996-registered examples do best (81.9%) and 1997 worst (73.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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