VESPA GS160

160cc Petrol Class 1

#2331 of 5426 overall #1 of 14 VESPAs #103 of 412 scooter bikes

85.6%

first-time pass rate

5.2%

failed outright

15,880

median miles at test

250

MOT tests, 2005–2025

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 84.2% of the time; by 20k that's 88.1%.

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	12	42.9
steering and suspension	6	21.4
brakes	3	10.7
fuel and exhaust	2	7.1
lamps and reflectors	2	7.1
tyres and wheels	1	3.6
reg plates and vin	1	3.6
body and structure	1	3.6

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: 1964 (86.3% pass). Weakest: 1962 (83.1%).

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.