Aprilia RS 125 2006 — Specifications

When Aprilia designed the RS 125 by basing its lines on those of the RSV-R 1000, the brand from Noale didn't do things by halves. For a young rider discovering motorcycles on a small, regulated displacement, straddling this machine feels like playing in the big leagues without yet having a license. The Aprilia RS 125 fairing, aggressive and taut, leaves no doubt about the bike’s sporting intentions. This isn's a gratuitous cosmetic trim: this bodywork also contributes to aerodynamic efficiency, which is important when trying to squeeze every km/h out of it on a clear road.

The Aprilia RS 125 2T engine is a 124.8 cc two-stroke single-cylinder developing 28.6 horsepower at 10,500 rpm. On paper, this may seem modest. In reality, a two-stroke that revs to 10,000 rpm or more is a physical experience that many modern four-strokes can no longer offer. The torque of 19 Nm arrives at 10,250 rpm, which means keeping the engine in its rev range if you want to move forward decisively. The six-speed gearbox helps maintain the machine in its power band. For those seeking the full power 34cv Aprilia RS 125 version, you will need to unlock it, but be warned: the transformation engages the owner's responsibility. In the restricted version, the maximum speed of the Aprilia RS 125 is around 155 km/h, which remains honest for a 125.

The 2006 model year marks a serious evolution in braking. Aprilia equipped this RS with a radial system at the front, with a four-piston caliper and a radial master cylinder, a technology that had just left the racing paddocks to join series production. A 320 mm front disc paired with an inverted fork 40 mm in diameter: this level of equipment on a 125 was rare at the time, and it shows in the braking. The perimeter aluminum frame, the contained wheelbase of 1,345 mm and the 137 kg when fully fueled make it a lively and precise machine. The seat height of 805 mm is more suited to pilots of average height or taller.

Faced with the competition of the time, notably the Honda NSR 125 or the Yamaha TZR 125, the Aprilia RS 125 established itself as the benchmark for finish and equipment. It cost more, priced at 5,399 euros new, but it justified it with superior quality components. Today, it is mainly on the Aprilia RS 125 used market that the machine is experiencing a second youth. They are regularly found on classifieds websites, Aprilia RS 125 parts remain available, and lovers of Aprilia RS 125 deco kits have plenty to personalize their machine to their liking. An entire generation learned to ride motorcycles on these red and black fairings, whether on the 1998, 1999, 2000 versions or subsequent model years.

What makes the enduring charm of the RS 125 2T is that it never pretended to be what it wasn't. It is a demanding training motorcycle, not a scooter disguised as a sportbike. It rewards the rider who takes the time to understand its engine, its revs, its way of delivering power. For a young A2 license holder or a passionate person looking for a used Aprilia RS 125 2T for the weekend, it is still today one of the most intense experiences that can be lived under 125 cc.