BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie vs Honda PCX 125

The Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda PCX 125: 85.6% vs 81.1%, a 4.5-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie Honda PCX 125
First-time pass rate 85.6% 81.1%
Outright fail rate 8.0% 12.9%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +15.0 pts +8.2 pts
Engine size 124cc 125cc
Rank among all models #2333 of 5428 #3358 of 5428
Median miles at test 14,062 16,405
MOT tests analysed 2,098 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 Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie Honda PCX 125
Tyres & wheels 3.3% 5.3%
Brakes 1.6% 6.7%
Lights & signalling 3.4% 3.9%
Steering & suspension 1.8% 4.4%
Structure & body 0.8% 0.7%
Fuel & exhaust 0.6% 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 Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie Honda PCX 125
2018 87.9% 81.2%
2019 87.8% 79.9%
2020 85.3% 82.3%
2021 86.0% 80.3%
2022 86.3% 80.3%
2023 82.2% 80.2%
2024 87.6% 80.9%
2025 87.8% 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 Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie Honda PCX 125
0k-10k miles 89.1% 88.4%
10k-20k miles 85.1% 79.3%
20k-30k miles 84.1% 78.0%
30k-40k miles 79.7% 77.0%
40k-50k miles 76.2% 74.8%

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

Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie vs Honda PCX 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie or the Honda PCX 125?

The Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda PCX 125: 85.6% vs 81.1%, a 4.5-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie still comes out ahead: +15.0 points vs comparable bikes for the Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie, +8.2 for the Honda PCX 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.4% of Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (3.3%).

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 Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie or the Honda PCX 125?

At 40k-50k miles the Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie passes first time more often: 76.2% for the Piaggio Vespa GTS 125 Super Ie vs 74.8% for the Honda PCX 125.

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