Vespa Douglas vs Yamaha Nmax 125

The Yamaha Nmax 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Vespa Douglas: 82.2% vs 81.8%, a 0.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Vespa Douglas	Yamaha Nmax 125
First-time pass rate	81.8%	82.2%
Outright fail rate	10.7%	11.4%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+1.7 pts	+9.5 pts
Engine size	125cc	125cc
Rank among all models	#3218 of 5428	#3145 of 5428
Median miles at test	13,673	30,236
MOT tests analysed	2,444	33,779
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	Vespa Douglas	Yamaha Nmax 125
Lights & signalling	7.1%	4.2%
Steering & suspension	4.1%	5.0%
Brakes	3.0%	5.3%
Tyres & wheels	1.3%	3.7%
Structure & body	0.7%	0.6%
Fuel & exhaust	0.7%	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	Vespa Douglas	Yamaha Nmax 125
2018	81.0%	86.3%
2019	88.9%	84.9%
2020	81.8%	88.4%
2021	86.2%	84.9%
2022	84.0%	83.5%
2023	71.4%	81.5%
2024	80.6%	79.8%
2025	84.2%	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	Vespa Douglas	Yamaha Nmax 125
0k-10k miles	85.1%	90.9%
10k-20k miles	79.1%	84.2%
20k-30k miles	81.9%	81.9%
30k-40k miles	78.7%	79.2%
40k-50k miles	76.2%	79.8%
50k-60k miles	63.4%	79.1%

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

Vespa Douglas vs Yamaha Nmax 125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Vespa Douglas or the Yamaha Nmax 125?

The Yamaha Nmax 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Vespa Douglas: 82.2% vs 81.8%, a 0.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha Nmax 125 still comes out ahead: +1.7 points vs comparable bikes for the Vespa Douglas, +9.5 for the Yamaha Nmax 125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Vespa Douglas fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 7.1% of Vespa Douglas MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (4.1%).

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 Vespa Douglas or the Yamaha Nmax 125?

At 50k-60k miles the Yamaha Nmax 125 passes first time more often: 63.4% for the Vespa Douglas vs 79.1% for the Yamaha Nmax 125.

VESPA DOUGLAS 81.8% pass · 2,444 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.