Lexmoto ZN vs Piaggio Vespa

The Piaggio Vespa passes its MOT first time more often than the Lexmoto ZN: 80.7% vs 68.4%, a 12.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Lexmoto ZN	Piaggio Vespa
First-time pass rate	68.4%	80.7%
Outright fail rate	21.0%	12.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-7.3 pts	+5.9 pts
Engine size	125cc	124cc
Rank among all models	#4831 of 5428	#3439 of 5428
Median miles at test	4,684	10,023
MOT tests analysed	976	287,482
Most common failure	brakes	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 ZN	Piaggio Vespa
Lights & signalling	10.2%	6.4%
Brakes	10.2%	3.5%
Tyres & wheels	8.1%	3.8%
Steering & suspension	6.1%	3.2%
Structure & body	3.1%	1.4%
Fuel & exhaust	0.5%	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	Lexmoto ZN	Piaggio Vespa
2018	62.1%	81.5%
2019	67.7%	82.6%
2020	69.0%	85.6%
2021	65.2%	85.8%
2022	73.0%	86.6%
2023	72.7%	86.5%
2024	67.9%	87.2%
2025	69.2%	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	Lexmoto ZN	Piaggio Vespa
0k-10k miles	70.0%	85.0%
10k-20k miles	61.4%	77.0%

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

Lexmoto ZN vs Piaggio Vespa FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Lexmoto ZN or the Piaggio Vespa?

The Piaggio Vespa passes its MOT first time more often than the Lexmoto ZN: 80.7% vs 68.4%, a 12.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Piaggio Vespa still comes out ahead: -7.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Lexmoto ZN, +5.9 for the Piaggio Vespa. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Lexmoto ZN fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 10.2% of Lexmoto ZN MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (10.2%).

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 ZN 68.4% pass · 976 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.