Lexmoto Gladiator 125 vs Piaggio Vespa

The Piaggio Vespa passes its MOT first time more often than the Lexmoto Gladiator 125: 80.7% vs 54.9%, a 25.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Lexmoto Gladiator 125	Piaggio Vespa
First-time pass rate	54.9%	80.7%
Outright fail rate	36.2%	12.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-17.3 pts	+5.9 pts
Engine size	125cc	124cc
Rank among all models	#5340 of 5428	#3439 of 5428
Median miles at test	8,842	10,023
MOT tests analysed	2,330	287,482
Most common failure	steering and suspension	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	Lexmoto Gladiator 125	Piaggio Vespa
Steering & suspension	26.1%	3.2%
Lights & signalling	17.5%	6.4%
Brakes	18.8%	3.5%
Tyres & wheels	8.3%	3.8%
Structure & body	2.5%	1.4%
Fuel & exhaust	1.8%	1.3%
Drive system	0.1%	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	Lexmoto Gladiator 125	Piaggio Vespa
2016	56.0%	79.2%
2017	57.6%	81.0%
2018	58.7%	81.5%
2019	61.3%	82.6%
2020	56.7%	85.6%
2021	59.8%	85.8%
2022	55.9%	86.6%
2023	59.0%	86.5%

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	Lexmoto Gladiator 125	Piaggio Vespa
0k-10k miles	57.7%	85.0%
10k-20k miles	51.0%	77.0%
20k-30k miles	52.8%	75.3%

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

Lexmoto Gladiator 125 vs Piaggio Vespa FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Lexmoto Gladiator 125 or the Piaggio Vespa?

The Piaggio Vespa passes its MOT first time more often than the Lexmoto Gladiator 125: 80.7% vs 54.9%, a 25.8-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Piaggio Vespa still comes out ahead: -17.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Lexmoto Gladiator 125, +5.9 for the Piaggio Vespa. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Lexmoto Gladiator 125 fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 26.1% of Lexmoto Gladiator 125 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (18.8%).

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 Lexmoto Gladiator 125 or the Piaggio Vespa?

At 20k-30k miles the Piaggio Vespa passes first time more often: 52.8% for the Lexmoto Gladiator 125 vs 75.3% for the Piaggio Vespa.

LEXMOTO GLADIATOR 125 54.9% pass · 2,330 tests PIAGGIO VESPA 80.7% pass · 287k tests

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