Aprilia RS 125 2017 — Specifications

When the Aprilia RS 125 fairing looks you in the eye from the back of a dealership, doubt creeps in: RSV4 or 125? The resemblance to the Noale superbike is not accidental. Aprilia designed this small sportbike as an assumed replica of its track queen, with the same headlights, the same truncated tail line, the same profiled fuel tank. At 4899 euros, the visual package does not disappoint. The dimensions, however, recall the realities of the A1 license: 134 kg dry weight, a seat at 820 mm, and under the monoblock fairing, a 124.8 cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine developing 15 horsepower at 10,500 rpm.

That’s where the conversation forks depending on the customer's age. Those who remember the Aprilia RS 125 2t from 1998 to 2000 hold in their memory the shrill trumpet of a two-stroke that pulled its horsepower like a cartridge, in a brutal and jubilatory peak of power. The unrestricted version of the time, often mentioned as the Aprilia RS 125 full power 34 hp within enthusiast circles, had enough to scare much larger machines. The Aprilia RS 125 engine of this new generation no longer plays on that register. Double overhead camshafts, electronic injection, 4 valves per cylinder, a compression ratio of 12.5:1: the mechanics are clean, civilized, and reaches its 10.90 Nm of torque at 8,250 rpm without particular drama. The maximum speed of the Aprilia RS 125 is capped at 120 km/h, within the legal norm of the segment. We are not looking for the Aprilia RS 125 unrestricted maximum speed of the previous generation.

What the 2017 version brings to the table is a serious technical upgrade. ABS makes its entry, which on a small sportbike at 134 kg is not a luxury. Braking relies on a 300 mm petal front disc with a radial 4-piston caliper, equipment usually found on machines twice as large. The 41 mm inverted fork offers 110 mm of travel, the perimeter aluminum frame integrates ribbed spars for torsional rigidity, and the exhaust is housed very low under the fairing to lower the center of gravity. All shod in 100/80-17 at the front and 130/70-17 at the rear, dimensions that guarantee a lively response on corner entry. The 6-speed gearbox can be complemented by an optional quickshifter, for those who really want to play racer between traffic lights.

The market for used Aprilia RS 125 motorcycles is a testament to riders' lasting attachment to this lineage. Aprilia RS 125 parts remain available, Aprilia RS 125 graphics kits abound on forums, and the value holds up well. On the classifieds, examples sell quickly, which says something about the machine's real desirability. The buyer profile divides into two distinct camps: the young A1 license holder who wants to ride something visually impeccable, and the nostalgic of the Aprilia RS 125 1999 who rediscovers the sporty DNA without the two-stroke constraint. For both, the proposition holds up. For those who want to avoid surprises related to unlocking kits or tired engines, the 2017 generation with its reliable 4-stroke and Euro 4 compliance offers a reassuring base.

The only solid criticism that can be leveled at this machine concerns its price positioning. At 4899 euros new, it exceeds the Yamaha YZF-R125 and the KTM RC 125. For that price, one would expect the quickshifter to be standard rather than optional. But the truth is there: no other 125 on the market manages to create such an illusion. Parked in front of a garage, next to a real RSV4, you have to approach to understand the difference.