We have ridden the litre class machines of the Aprilia portfolio; after every ride we have returned home with a grin on our faces. These Italian bikes have a finesse that makes them stand apart. However, we have always been aboard Aprilias that were above 1000cc capacity, so the run from a 150hp+ producing motorcycle to a 150cc scooter or rather a sports scooter was sort of unsettling. So we put our test rider and genuine Tuono lover, Suvil to the task of riding the 2016 Aprilia SR 150 in Baramati.
As for a quick recap about the Aprilia SR 150, the company likes to call it a quintessential sports scooter. Inspired by the RSV1000 R Factory, the SR 150 stands apart with its unique design and looks like no other scoot that runs on the Indian roads. So there you have a new segment has been officially created by the Italian marqee. Priced at INR 65,000 Ex-showroom, the SR 150 is here to take the scooter game a notch higher.
With its sharp and edgy looks the SR 150 manages to hold your attention for more than just a while. The racy front styling comprises of a minimalist body work on the handlbar that features turn indicators on either sides and hold the side mirrors. While thats about it on the top, the front apron is where things get a bit funky, the pointy beak of the apron gets a twin headlight unit encased in a bodywork that gets two air inlets. The overall frame looks compact and it gives the scooter a lean look. The foot board though, is slightly narrow.
The decals complement the whole sharp styling and the 14 inch wheels round off the sporty character. These big wheels are fitted with 120/70 section rubber. The front is suspended on telescopic forks while the rear is equipped with a monoshock unit. The brake setup comprises of a 220mm disc in the front and a 140mm drum at the rear. Under the dual tone-ish seat is a fuel tank that can hold 7 litres of petrol.
The Aprilia SR 150 draws power from a 150cc engine that does the duties on the Vespa scooters as well. It delivers 10.4 Bhp of power and 11.4 Nm of twist. We have a habit of seeing and riding various scooters that are almost the same in character but in different dimensions and from different brands. Here we have our first impressions jotted down as bullet points.
- The build quality is really good and a premium treatment can be seen and felt on the SR 150.
- The switch-gear feels premium but the instrument cluster feels small.
- Foot board is too narrow.
- The power delivery is linear but there isn’t that initial punch that one would like.
- Exhaust note is slightly throaty, has a grunt which feels nice.
- The bike accelerates swiftly past the 70 kph mark, even till 80, although a ton requires crouching.
- The engine however, feels stress free and long legged.
- The vibrations at idle are more than ideal.
- Braking is really good and the front disc does a really good job.
- Suspension is slightly on the stiffer side but it does not affect the comfort by a great margin.
- Nonetheless, the stiffer suspension makes handling fun, with easy turn-ins and excellent grip from the sticky tires (Vee Rubber).
- The fun handling can also be attributed to the relatively large, 14-inch wheels.
- Apart from handling, the larger footwear also aids straight line stability, which is noticeably better than a standard scooter.
- All in all, it’s a good deal at 65,000 ex-showroom. But that price will rise in times to come.
The Aprilia SR 150 has brought in a new type of character to the scooter clan and it seems that it will have its own fan following. The sports scooter has a lot to offer for an enthusiastic rider. And of course, it is the most affordable offering from the brand in India that makes the deal even more attractive.
Check out an image gallery of the new scooter below. We’ll follow this feature up with a detailed review soon.
