By John Campbell


Aprilia has long been at the leading edge of technology and a major innovator in the market by developing concepts into production motorcycles that other vendors in the industry strive to duplicate. The mighty Aprilia 125, sometimes called the RS 125, illustrates the technological development that has occurred at Aprilia over many years.

The innovative Aprilia 125 RS features a Rotax engine, an aluminum frame and swingarm, upside down fork, a radial caliper breaking system and classic RSV 1000 R styling.

The Aprilia engine has 125cc of race-bred performance pedigree with reliability to match. The two-stroke engine is water cooled with a crankcase reed valve intake. The anti-vibration balancer shaft makes it possible for the engine to run at high RPMs without feeling “buzzy,” and there are no worries when it comes to fuel mixing because the engine is equipped with an automatic mixing system. The Aprilia exhaust represents high marks in “green” technology with a catalytic converter that allows the motorcycle to pass Euro 3 emission standards while not losing powerful performance in the process.

Deeply rooted in the Aprillia's GP history, the Aprilia 125 has a cast aluminum swingarm and cross-ribbed reinforced chassis that creates a stronger but lighter frame. The combination of the box-section swingarm, the rear hydraulic monoshock and the front upside down fork come together to provide race track performance while still providing a good ride out on the road.

The RS 125 offers an all-important breaking system that’s second to none. The front 320mm disk, the 220 mm rear disk and the radial caliper with four opposed pistons provide superior stopping power. The brake system also features metal braided hoses to assist with braking, also helping to reduce annoying brake fade.

RSV 1000 R styling adds many Aprilia accessories to this motorcycle. The fairing was developed with multiple hours of wind-tunnel testing to allow the bike to cut through the wind like a blade. The combination of the fairing, windshield and tail section reduce the turbulence around the rider allowing the motorcycle to slip through the air with minimal disruption. The instrument panel, an analog/digital package, gives clear concise information to the rider with just a glance. 

All of these systems combined bring the motorcycle together into a powerful and winning package out on the track or the street.