BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Lambretta LI125/vs Honda PCX 125
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Lambretta LI125 vs Honda PCX 125

The Lambretta LI125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda PCX 125: 87.4% vs 81.1%, a 6.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Lambretta LI125 Honda PCX 125
First-time pass rate 87.4% 81.1%
Outright fail rate 7.0% 12.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +6.5 pts +8.2 pts
Engine size 125cc 125cc
Rank among all models #1787 of 5428 #3358 of 5428
Median miles at test 2,724 16,405
MOT tests analysed 21,300 88,608
Most common failure lighting and signalling 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 Lambretta LI125 Honda PCX 125
Brakes 2.5% 6.7%
Lights & signalling 3.7% 3.9%
Steering & suspension 2.4% 4.4%
Tyres & wheels 1.1% 5.3%
Structure & body 0.2% 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 Lambretta LI125 Honda PCX 125
2018 90.5% 81.2%
2019 91.7% 79.9%
2020 93.9% 82.3%
2021 91.7% 80.3%
2022 89.4% 80.3%
2023 89.6% 80.2%
2024 97.4% 80.9%
2025 91.2% 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 Lambretta LI125 Honda PCX 125
0k-10k miles 87.8% 88.4%
10k-20k miles 86.4% 79.3%
20k-30k miles 86.9% 78.0%
30k-40k miles 84.0% 77.0%
40k-50k miles 86.5% 74.8%
50k-60k miles 89.2% 75.8%

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

Lambretta LI125 vs Honda PCX 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Lambretta LI125 or the Honda PCX 125?

The Lambretta LI125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda PCX 125: 87.4% vs 81.1%, a 6.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda PCX 125 still comes out ahead: +6.5 points vs comparable bikes for the Lambretta LI125, +8.2 for the Honda PCX 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Lambretta LI125 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.7% of Lambretta LI125 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (2.5%).

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 Lambretta LI125 or the Honda PCX 125?

At 50k-60k miles the Lambretta LI125 passes first time more often: 89.2% for the Lambretta LI125 vs 75.8% for the Honda PCX 125.

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