Aprilia SX 125 2023 — Specifications

When Aprilia resurrected the SX 125 in 2018 after a few years of absence, many raised eyebrows. A 125 cm3 supermotard in a market dominated by aseptic roadsters seemed almost anachronistic. Except that Aprilia doesn’t do things halfway, and this machine, designed for young A1 license holders as well as adults seeking sharp urban sensations, carries within its genes the legacy of the SXV 450 and 550, those sporty twins that frightened larger displacement machines.

The first contact with the Aprilia SX 125 is not indifferent. The high saddle at 880 mm immediately dictates the color; this is not a motorcycle to sit in but to work. The steel double-beam frame supports generous suspension travel, with a 41 mm inverted fork at the front and a progressive-link monoshock at the rear. On degraded asphalt or when crossing a sidewalk, the machine absorbs without flinching where its direct rivals, such as the Husqvarna Svartpilen 125 or the Honda CB125R, remain confined to a more urban and less playful register. The Aprilia SX 125 technical specifications also reveal a contained weight of 134 kg all full for a 7-liter tank, which gives it a real agility in dense environments.

Where the discussion becomes complicated is with the engine. Exit the two-stroke engine that made the reputation of the old SXs; the four-stroke version meets Euro5 requirements thanks to a major overhaul carried out for the 2021 model year. New combustion chamber, iridium spark plug, reworked camshafts, redesigned intake and exhaust, latest-generation Magneti-Marelli ECU. As a result, the 124 cm3 single-cylinder delivers its 15 horsepower at 10,000 rpm with a torque of 11.2 Nm available from 8,000 rpm. Top speed is capped at 120 km/h, which is honest for the category. Don't look for the fury of a unrestricted 2-stroke here; the Aprilia SX 125 4T plays in another register, that of availability and comfort rather than brute power. For those looking for the Aprilia SX 125 2T used on classified ads hoping to rediscover sensations from another age, know that the two generations have not much in common beyond the name.

What really distinguishes the Aprilia SX 125 2023 from the competition is its unusual level of equipment for the displacement. ABS coupled with a rear wheel anti-hop system is equipment that is usually found on sportbikes well beyond the €10,000 mark. Here, for €4,199, you access technology that really changes behavior at the limit. 17-inch spoked rims shod with sport tires and the 300 mm front disc complete a performance-oriented package. The instrumentation integrates the memorization of the maximum speed and two trip computers, details that count for daily use or to keep an eye on your sessions with friends.

The Aprilia SX 125 is primarily aimed at young riders restricted by the A1 license who refuse to settle for a scooter dressed as a motorcycle, but also at experienced riders who want to have fun without breaking the bank or losing their license. Its price, its announced consumption of 2.6 liters per hundred and its contained size make it a credible everyday tool, provided you accept the high saddle and don't tell yourself stories about performance. It's not a perfect machine, but it's one of the few 125s that really makes you want to look for a chicane on a Saturday morning.