Aprilia RS125
 

Has any had one of these in the past or have one now, if so what are they like? I'm considering replacing my SV with one. :(

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

Why?? Only guessing you're on a 33hp restriction at the moment?

Not had an RS, but plenty of experience with rattier 2 strokes, AR, RG and, ahem, MZ. Expect *far, far* less reliability, expect *far* higher running costs - seriously expect to be changing barrels fairly frequently and pistons every now and again too. Second hand remember that they will have been owned by mechanically unforgiving teenagers ragging them like crazy; they seem far more attractive to thieves than bigger bikes.

I'd even wager that on most roads a 33hp SV will go a fair bit faster than an unrestricted RS too. Find the right twisty track and the RS will be like a scalpel but normal riding I'd reckon you can get more out of the SV.

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

I had an RS125 before I passed my test and moved on to the SV. Truth be said, it's hilarious...light and agile...but it's also incredibly high maintenance and when things go wrong they go very badly wrong!! Very hard to get a good 2nd hand one as they tend to be used and abused by either teenagers or learners who don't know what they have taken on.

I had a 2005 one, really well looked after, lovely little bike...then the oil pump failed on me and the whole thing siezed up while at speed, very nearly killed me!! I swapped it for an SV the day I passed my test!

Having said that, part of me does miss the 2 stroke smell in the morning and the way the people outside my work smoking would moan about the plumes of blue smoke when it's warming up :)

I'd love another shot on one just to see how much better a rider I am now...but I'd never own one again even though the new one is rather nice...

http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD...a?id=531599728

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

The SV has almost landed me in the brown box a few times thats the reason for wanting something smaller, i also have a soft spot for 2 strokes. Surely the RS can't be that unreliable if looked after and not thrashed all the time?

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

I personally think you should persever with the SV; Perhaps take it a little slower and learn how to ride a bit smoother - youll learn alot more about riding technique with the SV as opposed to riding the RS.

It wouldnt be unreliable as long as you use a good quality fully synthetic oil and elt the bugger warm up properly, and keep it clean and tidy!

Good luck with whatever you choose to do,

Matt

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

im still considering the RS125 (im on the RS50 atm), dont get me wrong, it is a great bike, fun, crazy, 2stroke hooliganism, loud, hairdryer n the 1 everyone says - HIGH MAINTANANCE, but all of it is worth it if you have that soft spot for 2strokes, they wouldnt be fun if you didnt have the high maintanance! but its great to learn about bikes n that with a 2stroker.

the newer versions as GeeMac has shown are a hell of a lot more reliable, but they aren't as fast - they're about 5mph slower (hey every little helps!) so if anything look for a 2003 model as they didnt have a catalyser and they reached around 115-120mph. but again as GeeMac said they are hard to find a decent 1 as teens n ****s dont maintain them properly - BUT! they are made to be thrashed about! because thats what kind of a machine it is!

the SV is pretty much the sensible route to go - nothing much i can say as i dont know much about them! but it seems to be the only way im gona be able to have a bigger bike and get more experience in riding properly.

at the end of the day it is down to personal choice and what you feel is better for you.

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

in my opinion mate that would be a seriously silly idea although the RS125 is fun but no replacemant for the SV

thats my 10P on it anyhow

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

I had a sit on a new RS125 that had been lowered...I couldn't even touch the ground AT ALL!! When it was on the sidestand I couldnt even touch the ground with my left foot lmao. I guess if your not too tall and you like to get your feet down an RS125 will be a bit of a nightmare!!

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

I owned a Mito and a RS125 in the past and i have to say its nothing short of lunacy going back to one from an SV. Minimatt is spot on with all the maintenance/reliability issues....just a complete pain in the ass....i cant see how an SV, restricted or not, could be worse.

Persevere with the SV IMO. You still get into trouble/kill yourself on a 125....if anything you might consider them more dangerous as they lack oomph unless you are right on the powerband. Dont get me wrong they were fun enough in my youth....but i would never buy another!

Your sig made me LMAO.... :)

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!

they are so crap it is unbelievable i for ever had my hand in my pocket most i spent was £600 for new piston and liner as the bottom of the spark plug decided to take a drip down the piston if you ask me they are not worth 1 look let alone a second one

plus they have a habbit of being the most sort after bike for chav's some one tried to nick mine when i was selling

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

Oh yes it can - those buggers seize at the drop of a hat. Need replacement rings on a very regular basis. My son's went twice in four months. Enough was enough, we sold it then.

Luvverly looking bikes though, and if you wind 'em up they go like stink.

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

Not had an RS125, but I served my time on a TZR125. Yes 2 strokes like these are high maintenance but are worth it for the fun factor alone. I was quite lucky with my stroker as I didn't blow the engine; got close but luckily crashed before, but thats another story.

As has been said they would have been owned by a kid with no mechanical sympathy or mechanical knowledge and I have plenty of experience along these lines. So you could get lucky and get a well maintained one or not, but isn't that the same with all bikes?

If you want something smaller than the SV what about a 400? In my opinion some of the 400's (the ones I've ridden anyway) handle better than the SV. Consider a CBR400 NC23 or NC29 good sporty all rounders, theres also the ZXR400L if your after something newer as I think they were made into the late '90's (though I swear I saw one on a 53 plate the other day) or you could go for the pinnacle of 400 handling the RVF400 NC35. These bikes are fine under a 33 restriction as I did time on a restricted NC23 and loved it. They will teach you alot about cornering and once your restrictions over it will be like a new bike again and will keep you happy for some time after.

Alternatively just keep the SV ;)

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

They are great fun in the corners, I still can't get through some of the trickier corners as quick on the SV as on my RS, but if you want to do any distance, dont get one! Mine blew up twice, in 3000KM!!! Most people say they're OK if you dont thrash them, but its impossible not too!

If you do get one I would suggest a brand new one or an old to rebuild as a project, thats the only real way to know that they're fine mechanically.

I still have my RS in the shed because I don't want it to go and would like to get it on the road along with my SV but I don't have enough money at the min :(

EDIT: The older style RS with the Rotax 123 engine would do an indicated ton, later models (2000 onwards) needed further derestricting to do this speed IIRC

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

First off, are you the guy off 125ccsportsbikes forums who bought an SV then complained that it wasn't powerful enough? Sorry if you're not but a guy on there called Lee with a red k6 and I had an argument about it as he insisted he could already ride beyond its limits.

On the RS125 though, I had one to learn on and kept it for 6 months or so after getting the SV. I can tell you that the RS is more fun to ride and also more rewarding, but the SV still wins for me because of how cheap it is to run and also that engine! If you get scared by it, then ride gently and build it up, it'll be worth it to keep the soundtrack.

Thanks, Larry.

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

Got the wrong guy mate.

Ah, i still prefer the noise of a stroker at full chat, is it still possible to pick up a 05 one new?

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

Not strictly true. Mine only ever had £11 per litre fully synth oil in it and the piston and rings changed every 8000 miles.

It still ate a piston ring requiring a £450 rebuild. And that was with Jap parts, Rotax parts cost more than a new engine!

They are ace bikes but I wouldn't move back to one now, especially for day to day use.

Agree with the rest of the post.

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

I leanred on a RS125 loved the bike to bits, fantastic - light, agile and quick. I was lucky with mine the worst that happened was I blew a hole in the exhaust when I ran out petrol and it back fired! Also the choke cable snapped but that was the worst. I was lucky when bought her though the guy that owned it before me was a trained bike mechanic so all the little faults had been sorted and she had just had her piston and rings done so she was good for another 10,000 miles.

But believe me stick with the SV much better bike alot more reliable more power (even when retricted) and they dont go bang on a regular basis!

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

RS250 anyone?

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

Yes please :cool:

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

Was going to get one after my RS125 but it's even more thirsty and needs 2 pistons and rings every 8k. As a toy or track bike yes, but day to day a bit expensive.

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

Well, yeah, obviously they're ridiculous. But since when does that matter? :)

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

I'll take one. I also have a soft spot for the TZR250 3XV (the later model).

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

rather than downsizing. try http://www.iam.org.uk/

it doesnt matter what bike you have, your in control of the throttle.

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

RGV250 Anyone??

Re: Aprilia RS125
 

I used to have an unrestricted fairly tricked up RS125. It was fairly unreliable, even when treated to top quality oil and thorough warming up.
it was a lot of fun, but one thing I would like to get straight is that the performance is not even close to an SV.
An unrestricted RS125 will NOT DO 110-120mph.
You would be lucky to get 95 poss 100 at a real push. (not bad for a 125 granted)
Also, because of the power band, an rs will struggle to break 5 secs to 60.