Aprilia RX 125 2018 — Specifications

When Aprilia releases the Aprilia RX 125 from its boxes, you quickly understand that Noale isn't playing the card of discretion. This small enduro has a look that frankly leans towards the larger displacement bikes in the offroad segment, with this perimeter aluminum frame, this 41 mm inverted fork, and these wheels with trial-style proportions: 21 inches up front, 18 inches in the rear, shod with knobby tires cut to grip the earth.

The real departure from previous versions, the one that nostalgics of the Aprilia RX 125 2T still struggle to digest, is the engine. The two-stroke single-cylinder that gave the bike character is gone. Euro 4 standards, and then the push towards Euro 5, imposed a 124.8 cc four-stroke engine, with a compression ratio of 12.5:1 and a four-valve cylinder head. The result on paper: 15 horsepower at 10,500 rpm, 10.9 Nm of torque at 8,250 rpm. It’s not a lightning bolt, and no one will claim otherwise. On the other hand, fuel consumption is reasonable, and the 7.5 liters of the tank offer decent range for rides on trails.

What strikes you when approaching the Aprilia RX 125 enduro up close is the level of finish for this price point. At 3,529 euros, you get a motorcycle that shares its technical base with the SX 125, the supermotard version of the range. The two machines are almost identical underneath, with targeted differences: a taller front wheel on the RX, trail tires where the SX mounts road slicks, a longer countershaft sprocket to favor flexibility off-road rather than top speed. Top speed is also limited to 120 km/h, which clearly defines the terrain. The six-speed gearbox and final chain handle the engine's rev range well, without hysteria but without disappointment either.

The braking deserves a special mention. The fitted ABS isn't a basic ABS: it integrates an anti-stoppie function, inherited directly from technologies developed on Aprilia Superbike machines. On a 125 kg motorcycle, fully fueled, with a seat at 905 mm from the ground, this is reassuring for the young A1 license holder discovering off-road riding, without restricting the more experienced rider. The rear hydraulic monoshock suspension with progressive linkage completes a chassis designed to absorb the irregularities of the terrain without the rider spending their time fighting the bike.

Let's be direct about the positioning: the Aprilia RX 125 isn't here to challenge a KTM EXC or a Yamaha WR on their turf. It would be a lost cause, and Aprilia knows it. The target is the young A1 license holder who wants a motorcycle with a serious look, usable on accessible trails on weekends, without breaking the bank or putting themselves in danger. For this profile, the RX ticks the right boxes: assertive style, technology above the segment average, contained price. Those looking for a used Aprilia RX 125 from the 2018 to 2020 model years will also find well-equipped machines at attractive prices, proof that the resale value holds up. The Aprilia RX 125 4T may have lost the fire of the two-strokes of yesteryear, but it has gained maturity. And that, over time, counts.