BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Piaggio X8/vs Yamaha Nmax 125
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Piaggio X8 vs Yamaha Nmax 125

The Yamaha Nmax 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio X8: 82.2% vs 74.0%, a 8.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Piaggio X8 Yamaha Nmax 125
First-time pass rate 74.0% 82.2%
Outright fail rate 20.3% 11.4%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +2.5 pts +9.5 pts
Engine size 124cc 125cc
Rank among all models #4397 of 5428 #3145 of 5428
Median miles at test 19,066 30,236
MOT tests analysed 8,760 33,779
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

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Piaggio X8 Yamaha Nmax 125
Steering & suspension 9.9% 5.0%
Lights & signalling 8.0% 4.2%
Brakes 6.7% 5.3%
Tyres & wheels 6.5% 3.7%
Fuel & exhaust 1.6% 0%
Structure & body 0.9% 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 X8 Yamaha Nmax 125
2018 73.3% 86.3%
2019 73.3% 84.9%
2020 81.4% 88.4%
2021 75.0% 84.9%
2022 78.5% 83.5%
2023 73.4% 81.5%
2024 75.8% 79.8%
2025 81.9% 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 X8 Yamaha Nmax 125
0k-10k miles 82.9% 90.9%
10k-20k miles 74.8% 84.2%
20k-30k miles 71.9% 81.9%
30k-40k miles 67.0% 79.2%
40k-50k miles 66.9% 79.8%
50k-60k miles 66.4% 79.1%

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

Piaggio X8 vs Yamaha Nmax 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Piaggio X8 or the Yamaha Nmax 125?

The Yamaha Nmax 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Piaggio X8: 82.2% vs 74.0%, a 8.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha Nmax 125 still comes out ahead: +2.5 points vs comparable bikes for the Piaggio X8, +9.5 for the Yamaha Nmax 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Piaggio X8 fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 9.9% of Piaggio X8 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (8.0%).

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 X8 or the Yamaha Nmax 125?

At 50k-60k miles the Yamaha Nmax 125 passes first time more often: 66.4% for the Piaggio X8 vs 79.1% for the Yamaha Nmax 125.

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