Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Piaggio X8 Premium vs Honda Forza 300/350
The Honda Forza 300/350 passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio X8 Premium: 89.6% vs 82.0%, a 7.6-point lead.
MOT reliability, side by side
| Metric | Piaggio X8 Premium | Honda Forza 300/350 |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 82.0% | 89.6% |
| Outright fail rate | 12.8% | 7.3% |
| Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) | -1.9 pts | +2.6 pts |
| Engine size | 244cc | 279cc |
| Rank among all models | #3181 of 5428 | #1077 of 5428 |
| Median miles at test | 22,321 | 9,648 |
| MOT tests analysed | 1,612 | 10,821 |
| Most common failure | steering and suspension | 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
| Component | Piaggio X8 Premium | Honda Forza 300/350 |
|---|---|---|
| Lights & signalling | 5.7% | 1.7% |
| Steering & suspension | 5.1% | 1.8% |
| Tyres & wheels | 4.1% | 2.6% |
| Brakes | 3.2% | 3.4% |
| Structure & body | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Fuel & exhaust | 0.2% | 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
| Test year | Piaggio X8 Premium | Honda Forza 300/350 |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 80.0% | 91.3% |
| 2017 | 83.8% | 87.5% |
| 2018 | 83.3% | 87.4% |
| 2019 | 75.0% | 88.4% |
| 2020 | 80.8% | 87.6% |
| 2021 | 83.1% | 88.2% |
| 2022 | 80.4% | 90.5% |
| 2023 | 78.6% | 89.2% |
Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.
Pass rate by mileage
| Mileage | Piaggio X8 Premium | Honda Forza 300/350 |
|---|---|---|
| 0k-10k miles | 84.3% | 94.2% |
| 10k-20k miles | 84.8% | 87.6% |
| 20k-30k miles | 81.3% | 81.3% |
| 30k-40k miles | 83.2% | 82.1% |
| 40k-50k miles | 78.3% | 83.2% |
| 50k-60k miles | 80.6% | 79.1% |
Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.
Piaggio X8 Premium vs Honda Forza 300/350 FAQ
Which is more reliable, the Piaggio X8 Premium or the Honda Forza 300/350?
The Honda Forza 300/350 passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio X8 Premium: 89.6% vs 82.0%, a 7.6-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda Forza 300/350 still comes out ahead: -1.9 points vs comparable bikes for the Piaggio X8 Premium, +2.6 for the Honda Forza 300/350. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.
What does the Piaggio X8 Premium fail its MOT on most?
Lights & signalling: 5.7% of Piaggio X8 Premium MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (5.1%).
What does the Honda Forza 300/350 fail its MOT on most?
Brakes: 3.4% of Honda Forza 300/350 MOT tests failed on it, then tyres & wheels (2.6%).
Which holds up better at high mileage, the Piaggio X8 Premium or the Honda Forza 300/350?
At 50k-60k miles the Piaggio X8 Premium passes first time more often: 80.6% for the Piaggio X8 Premium vs 79.1% for the Honda Forza 300/350.
See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.