BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Kymco Like 125/vs Honda PCX 125
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Kymco Like 125 vs Honda PCX 125

The Kymco Like 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda PCX 125: 82.3% vs 81.1%, a 1.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Kymco Like 125 Honda PCX 125
First-time pass rate 82.3% 81.1%
Outright fail rate 13.2% 12.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +10.4 pts +8.2 pts
Engine size 125cc 125cc
Rank among all models #3130 of 5428 #3358 of 5428
Median miles at test 10,035 16,405
MOT tests analysed 1,065 88,608
Most common failure brakes brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Kymco Like 125 Honda PCX 125
Brakes 7.2% 6.7%
Tyres & wheels 5.1% 5.3%
Lights & signalling 4.0% 3.9%
Steering & suspension 3.5% 4.4%
Structure & body 0.6% 0.7%
Fuel & exhaust 0.4% 0.0%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested
Test year Kymco Like 125 Honda PCX 125
2018 80.2% 81.2%
2019 85.1% 79.9%
2020 70.9% 82.3%
2021 87.0% 80.3%
2022 77.8% 80.3%
2023 79.2% 80.2%
2024 91.1% 80.9%
2025 83.7% 81.6%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test
Mileage Kymco Like 125 Honda PCX 125
0k-10k miles 89.4% 88.4%
10k-20k miles 78.7% 79.3%
20k-30k miles 73.2% 78.0%
30k-40k miles 62.0% 77.0%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Kymco Like 125 vs Honda PCX 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Kymco Like 125 or the Honda PCX 125?

The Kymco Like 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda PCX 125: 82.3% vs 81.1%, a 1.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Kymco Like 125 still comes out ahead: +10.4 points vs comparable bikes for the Kymco Like 125, +8.2 for the Honda PCX 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Kymco Like 125 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 7.2% of Kymco Like 125 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (5.1%).

What does the Honda PCX 125 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 6.7% of Honda PCX 125 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (5.3%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Kymco Like 125 or the Honda PCX 125?

At 30k-40k miles the Honda PCX 125 passes first time more often: 62.0% for the Kymco Like 125 vs 77.0% for the Honda PCX 125.

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.