BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Lambretta GP150/vs Piaggio Vespa
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Lambretta GP150 vs Piaggio Vespa

The Lambretta GP150 passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio Vespa: 87.6% vs 80.7%, a 6.9-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Lambretta GP150 Piaggio Vespa
First-time pass rate 87.6% 80.7%
Outright fail rate 7.2% 12.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +3.2 pts +5.9 pts
Engine size 148cc 124cc
Rank among all models #1725 of 5428 #3439 of 5428
Median miles at test 1,735 10,023
MOT tests analysed 12,123 287,482
Most common failure lighting and signalling lighting and signalling

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 Lambretta GP150 Piaggio Vespa
Lights & signalling 4.2% 6.4%
Brakes 2.7% 3.5%
Steering & suspension 2.3% 3.2%
Tyres & wheels 0.9% 3.8%
Structure & body 0.4% 1.4%
Fuel & exhaust 0.4% 1.3%

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 Lambretta GP150 Piaggio Vespa
2018 90.7% 81.5%
2019 91.6% 82.6%
2020 91.9% 85.6%
2021 89.7% 85.8%
2022 91.0% 86.6%
2023 92.5% 86.5%
2024 94.5% 87.2%
2025 96.2% 87.4%

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 Lambretta GP150 Piaggio Vespa
0k-10k miles 87.2% 85.0%
10k-20k miles 89.3% 77.0%
20k-30k miles 89.5% 75.3%
30k-40k miles 90.0% 75.4%
40k-50k miles 81.5% 75.3%
50k-60k miles 84.1% 78.7%

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

Lambretta GP150 vs Piaggio Vespa FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Lambretta GP150 or the Piaggio Vespa?

The Lambretta GP150 passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio Vespa: 87.6% vs 80.7%, a 6.9-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Piaggio Vespa still comes out ahead: +3.2 points vs comparable bikes for the Lambretta GP150, +5.9 for the Piaggio Vespa. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Lambretta GP150 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.2% of Lambretta GP150 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.7%).

What does the Piaggio Vespa fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.4% of Piaggio Vespa MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (3.8%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Lambretta GP150 or the Piaggio Vespa?

At 50k-60k miles the Lambretta GP150 passes first time more often: 84.1% for the Lambretta GP150 vs 78.7% for the Piaggio Vespa.

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