Kymco Like vs Honda PCX 125

The Kymco Like passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda PCX 125: 83.8% vs 81.1%, a 2.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Kymco Like	Honda PCX 125
First-time pass rate	83.8%	81.1%
Outright fail rate	11.1%	12.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+11.4 pts	+8.2 pts
Engine size	125cc	125cc
Rank among all models	#2791 of 5428	#3358 of 5428
Median miles at test	9,414	16,405
MOT tests analysed	736	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	Honda PCX 125
Brakes	6.0%	6.7%
Tyres & wheels	2.9%	5.3%
Steering & suspension	2.7%	4.4%
Lights & signalling	2.9%	3.9%
Structure & body	0.3%	0.7%

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	Honda PCX 125
2018	83.3%	81.2%
2019	81.8%	79.9%
2020	84.6%	82.3%
2021	86.6%	80.3%
2022	80.0%	80.3%
2023	86.6%	80.2%
2024	87.8%	80.9%
2025	88.2%	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	Honda PCX 125
0k-10k miles	88.9%	88.4%
10k-20k miles	78.5%	79.3%
20k-30k miles	77.5%	78.0%

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

Kymco Like vs Honda PCX 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

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

The Kymco Like passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda PCX 125: 83.8% vs 81.1%, a 2.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Kymco Like still comes out ahead: +11.4 points vs comparable bikes for the Kymco Like, +8.2 for the Honda PCX 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Kymco Like fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 6.0% of Kymco Like MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (2.9%).

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 or the Honda PCX 125?

They are level: at 20k-30k miles the Kymco Like passes 77.5% first time and the Honda PCX 125 78.0%.

KYMCO LIKE 83.8% pass · 736 tests HONDA PCX 125 81.1% pass · 88.6k tests

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