VESPA (DOUGLAS) GS160

160cc Petrol Class 1

#823 of 5426 overall #4 of 30 VESPA (DOUGLAS)s #27 of 412 scooter bikes

90.4%

first-time pass rate

4.2%

failed outright

10,724

median miles at test

384

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2015

The GS160's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (90.0% → 90.6%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the GS160's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage GS160 passes first time 90.9% of the time; by 40k that's 94.9%.

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 GS160

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lighting and signalling	18	47.4
brakes	8	21.1
steering and suspension	5	13.2
tyres and wheels	3	7.9
brakes	2	5.3
driving controls	1	2.6
steering	1	2.6

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the GS160 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (PIAGGIO VESPA, HONDA PCX 125, YAMAHA NMAX 125).

PIAGGIO VESPA 80.7% pass · 287k tests HONDA PCX 125 81.1% pass · 88.6k tests YAMAHA NMAX 125 82.2% pass · 33.8k tests PIAGGIO PX 125 (VESPA) 81.0% pass · 33.2k 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 GS160.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1963 (94.5% pass). Weakest: 1964 (89.5%).

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.