Lexmoto Tommy 125 vs Piaggio Vespa

The Piaggio Vespa passes its MOT first time more often than the Lexmoto Tommy 125: 80.7% vs 64.3%, a 16.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Lexmoto Tommy 125	Piaggio Vespa
First-time pass rate	64.3%	80.7%
Outright fail rate	26.4%	12.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-10.4 pts	+5.9 pts
Engine size	124cc	124cc
Rank among all models	#5044 of 5428	#3439 of 5428
Median miles at test	5,439	10,023
MOT tests analysed	944	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	Lexmoto Tommy 125	Piaggio Vespa
Lights & signalling	14.0%	6.4%
Brakes	12.2%	3.5%
Tyres & wheels	9.2%	3.8%
Steering & suspension	8.7%	3.2%
Fuel & exhaust	3.8%	1.3%
Structure & body	2.2%	1.4%

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 Tommy 125	Piaggio Vespa
2015	64.3%	78.4%
2016	64.0%	79.2%
2017	65.3%	81.0%
2018	64.5%	81.5%
2019	83.7%	82.6%
2020	72.5%	85.6%
2021	68.3%	85.8%
2022	73.5%	86.6%

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	Lexmoto Tommy 125	Piaggio Vespa
0k-10k miles	65.6%	85.0%
10k-20k miles	58.6%	77.0%

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

Lexmoto Tommy 125 vs Piaggio Vespa FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

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

The Piaggio Vespa passes its MOT first time more often than the Lexmoto Tommy 125: 80.7% vs 64.3%, a 16.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Piaggio Vespa still comes out ahead: -10.4 points vs comparable bikes for the Lexmoto Tommy 125, +5.9 for the Piaggio Vespa. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

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

Lights & signalling: 14.0% of Lexmoto Tommy 125 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (12.2%).

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%).

LEXMOTO TOMMY 125 64.3% pass · 944 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.