Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11 vs Yamaha Nmax 125

The Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha Nmax 125: 85.6% vs 82.2%, a 3.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11	Yamaha Nmax 125
First-time pass rate	85.6%	82.2%
Outright fail rate	7.7%	11.4%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+12.0 pts	+9.5 pts
Engine size	123cc	125cc
Rank among all models	#2333 of 5428	#3145 of 5428
Median miles at test	6,921	30,236
MOT tests analysed	1,490	33,779
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	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 PX 125 MY11	Yamaha Nmax 125
Lights & signalling	4.2%	4.2%
Brakes	2.1%	5.3%
Steering & suspension	1.5%	5.0%
Tyres & wheels	2.3%	3.7%
Structure & body	0.6%	0.6%

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 PX 125 MY11	Yamaha Nmax 125
2018	85.3%	86.3%
2019	90.8%	84.9%
2020	87.8%	88.4%
2021	87.5%	84.9%
2022	88.9%	83.5%
2023	85.0%	81.5%
2024	88.9%	79.8%
2025	84.3%	80.8%

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 PX 125 MY11	Yamaha Nmax 125
0k-10k miles	87.5%	90.9%
10k-20k miles	79.3%	84.2%
20k-30k miles	85.6%	81.9%

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

Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11 vs Yamaha Nmax 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11 or the Yamaha Nmax 125?

The Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha Nmax 125: 85.6% vs 82.2%, a 3.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11 still comes out ahead: +12.0 points vs comparable bikes for the Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11, +9.5 for the Yamaha Nmax 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.2% of Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (2.3%).

What does the Yamaha Nmax 125 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 5.3% of Yamaha Nmax 125 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (5.0%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11 or the Yamaha Nmax 125?

At 20k-30k miles the Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11 passes first time more often: 85.6% for the Piaggio Vespa PX 125 MY11 vs 81.9% for the Yamaha Nmax 125.

PIAGGIO VESPA PX 125 MY11 85.6% pass · 1,490 tests YAMAHA NMAX 125 82.2% pass · 33.8k tests

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