Real Italian Style (Aprilia RS125)

Member Name: munkee

Product:	Aprilia RS125
Date:	07/05/03 (10038 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Styling, Speed & handling, Running costs

Disadvantages: Insurance, Thief-magnet

Well it had been a while since i owned a bike, well over 10 years. Then it was a RD125LC, until some git stole it. But after being wheelless for so many years and still itching to get back in the saddle, i finally took the plunge and decided to buy one, 2nd hand. The only choices i then had were; what to pay and what bike to go for.

Like most things i started out cheap, but the more i thought about it, the more adverts i saw and the more i read my price range kept on going upwards. Well if your gonna get a bike u might as well get good one right? and for that u need to dig deep and cough up. It wasnt too hard a choice to go for the Aprillia.

The first thing that hits u about the RS125 is the size, for a 125 it is big. But once on it you realise how nicely put together it is, it isnt big, its just right. The first time i rode it (back from the shop) was interesting, the riding position isnt the most comfortable one at first, but once u get used to the posture (within a week or so) you'll wonder what you thought was awkward about it.

The clocks are mainly in kph, but there is also an rpm gague at the major points (10, 20, 30, etc). On the dash u also have a digital readout which informs u of the temperature, time, etc. You also get a laptimer just for the fun of it. The temp guague wil show COLD til the bike is warmed up (30deg) but even a few degrees above this it will still perform poorly until its warmed up properly. Once you reach that point you'll be riding a dream of a bike.

As for performance, well all i can say is you'll be smiling like a cheshire cat once u go for a real ride. It handles beautifully and the accelleration is fantastic. Although mine is the restricted model it will reach 85 every time i ask, and on occasions when i've really let the throttle go, 90 (the restiction wont allow you to go past the 8,000rpm mark in each gear but so what? :o). Economical? Well a tank of petrol will se
t u back £5.00, which lasts me 130km easily. Go for a long ride and the bike will outlast the rider. I went 7 hours in the seat and i was stiff, cramped up and tired near the end, but the bike was still going as smoothly as it was at the beginning.

I only know of two problems: The first drawback is the that the bike is very light on the road so any strong winds will be felt, but during normal weather (or light winds) and at top speed you'll hardly get any vibration at all. The wide rear tyre helps road handling. Once you get brave enough to trust it and enjoy throwing the bike into the bends you'll be doing what the Aprilia was made for.

The second (and last) drawback is its attraction for theft. Get an alarm on it and use a strong lock to put your mind at rest, and keep it locked up indoors safe and warm at night. This attraction to the lowest of the low unfortunately affects the insurance price, as does the fact of a learner driver, but fun does have a price.

I'll be selling mine in a few months once i get the direct access, then its onto a larger more powerful bike, but i'll always have great memories of this 2-wheel grin-machine.

A beautiful, fantastic bike to ride and its legal for a learner too, is that amount of fun allowed? If you can afford one and want the best 125 on the market, get an RS125. You deserve it!

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