APRILIA RS125 (1995 - 2012) Review

Version: MP

Year: 1998

A perfect introduction to sports bikes, maybe not to motorcycling itself. Treat it properly and you'll be rewarded.

Buying experience: First ever sportsbike for €1500, which is the average price for a fully functional RS125 in good condition.

Version: extrema

Year: 1998

Annual servicing cost: £1,000

I've owned my Aprilia rs 125 98' for 3 year's now and yes im pretty much constantly servicing it but it's my favourite thing in the world and when treated right, I can get over 6 months riding including commuting daily before anything major goes wrong. Just keep quality 2 stroke in it and anti freeze topped up and your laughing all the way. I would'nt ever sell or swap for any amount of money or any other big bike in existance, i vowed to keep it forever and maintain it. Though it has cost me more than twice what i paid for it in repairs already.

Buying experience: Bought privatly for less than advertised.

Year: 2005

The best feature of this bike has to be the acceleration; it's the most fun I've had on a 125. However the bike is let down by ageing reliability issues and pricey parts.

Buying experience: I paid £800 for my RS, which needed a new set of tyres. I brought from a private seller, who was able to deliver it to me for free.

Year: 2006

Annual servicing cost: £100

The most fun you will have on a 125 but a definite diva. Not for the faint hearted or nervous!

Buying experience: I bought from a private owner as the 2 strokes are so rare now. Bike didn't run when I bought it but is beautiful now, just needed tlc.

Year: 2001

Superb handling, looks and engine (when running). If your not shy with a spanner and have a workshop to hand, would definately recommend it. For a learner, forces you to learn your way round and engine and gives you confidence with the handling. Not very comfortable though, found wrists get a bit cramped. Blank off oil pump and mix with petrol in tank. I always suspected my 2 stroke pump of being queer.

Buying experience: I bough for £600 privatly around 6 years ago as a non runner. after a bit of inspection, the 2 stroke oil feed had become clogged. think most go for little over 1k.

I have just passed my CBT and want a decent 125 for the next 6 months after which i want to go for my full test and get a larger bike. I want it to look good so have the following in mind: Yamaha YZF-125 Aprillia RS 125 Possibly Honda CBR 125 The first two look the best. I really want the aprillia, but all the reviews suggest that the maintenacne on these are expensive and they seem to spend most of their lives in a garage, based on me being a new biker and not knowing much about bikes, I can repair them myself, and dont want to find myself breaking down every other day. Honest non biased opinions please, which one should i go for? should i risk getting the Aprillia? which is cheaper than the YZF, or pay the extra and get the YZF??? I find the Honda CBR a little too small and doesnt look the part, in my opinion, so would be my last option. Thanks Shad

I have heard nothing but rave reviews about the bike with some stating that it can reach 90MPH+ even when restricted. I cant get above 60MPH. It pulls like a demon and I can get up to 60 in 3rd should I so choose, so I've effectively got 2 gears that are wasted. Do not get a restricted version. I could go faster on my old Yamaha SR 125!!!

Got the 96 extrema for my first bike since I've followed racing die to my dads influence as an ex racer, I thought long and hard and came to the conclusion that this iconic bike was the one for me. The handling is second to none and the power is great. Unfortunately all this is questioned by the reliability of the rotax inside. Despite that fact I now have 2. Recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind rebuilding.

A need for speed! This is a fantastic motorbike if you like the feeling of the wind on your visor. However, as has been said before in previous comments, this is a high maintenance motorbike, as most 2-strokes are, so it would be wise to be handy with a wrench if you are considering a purchase. For a fuller review of this motorcycle, check out my website at: www.besttwowheelreviews.com/aprilia/ This website also contains a bunch of other reviews for motorcycles in this category.

Look after it and you'll be mostly ok. I did have a completely unexplained seizure (warmed it up beforehand and took it nice and gentle for the first two miles - and then it seized). I also had the float bowl crack so it spewed petrol everywhere. And then there's the ongoing front brake vibration issue. Apart from this it's fantastic - faster than every other 125 and it looks the dogs wotsits. Get one. Now.

i have a 2001 rs125 withc is current i have owned another 2003rs125 and a 2000 rs50 these bikes are crazy fast for what thay are a simple 125cc engine the bike is ok restricted but come-on who in the right mind wont want to let out all the 33 horses i baught this bike from a dealer witch was stored by the owner for 5 years and only had 4000kms on the clock it was like new and restricted i fully derestricted it with all standard parts it was a good bike i could get 105mph out of it i then soon put carbon reeds on the standard reed manifold i also added a 34ml carb a sports exshaust and a racing cdi and god it made the difrence this bike lifted easy in 1st gear a bit hard to get it up in 2nd but could do it the difrence was well put it this way my freind i derestriced his rs125 2002 modle and we had a little drag well i will just say it was a 3 legged donky compaird to the raceing horse these bikes are the fastest 125s i know of its reliable enough if you can spend money like theirs a hole in your pocket as i would recomend a topend rebuild evry 4000kms and a bottom end rebuild evry 6-7000kms only use the best gear oil and 2storke oil you can get always use a ierdum spark plug these bikes burn spark plugs as if you have tosed them into a fire the ierdum spark plug also help smoother running and last a fair bit longer the handeling is superb their is alot of aftermarket stuff for the rear suspension etc i wouldnt change a thing thay are racing bike set for racing realy and changing things like that could spoinl the bike if you have the money also to upgradeds like i have mentioned exspect the 40mpg to go down to like 35mpg dosnt sound much but over the year if you keep count of how much you spend on 2storke and petrol its alot i would also recomend a bigbore kit i got one from polini i got the crank rebuilt and new main bearins and seal befor puting this on as it is claimed to push out a wopping 37-38bhp i paid 360 for my big bore and it lasted 7 munth only covering 4500kms polini sell new pistons for the big bore but when it tears your cylinder to bits and it needs replateing its not good value for money but is worth it if you change the piston quik enough befor it gose on you these bikes are slim look much bigger than thay aer the only thing that i would gives it away is the small exshaughst if it had a fair big one then you wouldnt know apart from the best sound in the world that 2stoke ping and waaaa waaaa waaaa lol i would recomend these bikes but i have rcently had a go on the new ktm duke 125 and for me its time for a change to that i think but i defently recomend these bikes these are by far the best 125cc sports bikes out their just remember to look after them get work done properly keep all receipts as i carnt stand people go oooh i had it rebuilt a munth ago i did have the recipt but my maother throw it out etc bullshhhh keep evrything you buy a cheap 10p plastic valve cap keep the recipt it make the bike look realy good and is realy good for resale value if your buying one make sure you check evrything works dont be affraid to say can you lift the tank to have a good look at most of the eletrics and engine make sure its cleanish at least and dont have people say well i would need to remove the whole tank no its 1 bolt from the frunt of the tank take of the seat and it lifts up and stands straight up i am saying this as the 1st bike i baught i didnt check and the lad cut the powervalve solnoid wires thinking it derestricted it etc ha and the engine gees i thaught he had pourd oil on it and then smotherd it in mud and grit its was black just make sure you check evrything you can including wheel bearings etc good all round solid fast bike and with the right mods a absalute rocket for the conutry roads with freinds or just a simple cruse to work and remember the bike is made to be a road bike and needs to be treated like a 70mph bike most of the time or if you redline it all the time say good bye piston and rings and helo a bill and a top end rebuild

dont even bother buying this bike. buy a honda cbr or yzf 125. this bike will be nothing but trouble. its tacky and poor quality. you will have countless break downs with this bike. it spits out 2 stroke oil everywhere, it will rattle, the electrics wont work, you will be putting it into a garage every weekend. to sum up this bike id say: a crap bike to go along with the crap 17 year olds who ride them.

bought this piece of crap back in febuary and sold it last week finally. it was a endless mix of breakdowns with electrics, transmission and engine trouble. cost me alot of money in the end. only thing good when it did run was the looks, handling and speed (when it did run) but after all that i would gladly taken back my old aerox 100 which i put 18000m trouble free miles. i would never buy another aprilia again and would never advise my worst enemey to buy one either.

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Bought an RS125-SP after passing my test (restricted licence) and had it de-restricted & tuned, giving about 35 bhp. For a 125, it was super quick, looked stunning and handled like a dream. Unfortunately reliability was awful. The engine seized (despite using top grade 2-stroke oil), most parts broke & had to be replaced and the electrics were diabolical. I probably spent the cost of the bike again in various repairs. Unfortunately, this bike is aimed at 17 year olds who don't have the money nor desire to keep on top of the maintainence so a reliable 2nd hand model is tough to find.

My one was a new 2001 model back when i was 17 so i cant comment on the newer ones although i've heard nothing apart from the body work has changed. Top marks on handling, will easily out handle most bigger bikes. Quality is unreal for a 125, well built, looks amazing and from a distence could look like a 4 or 600 sitting there. Performance is 17 year old mind blowingly good (when full power) 115 mph top end and gets there well but it comes at a price, thirsty on petrol, expencive oil and £500 - £800 engine re-builds every 2000-5000 miles (know from expierence and friends who also had them) so its a 17 year olds orgasm of a bike if they also have very deep pockets

My son just had to have one. I couldn't convince him to get a CBR and to be honest if I was 17 again I would want the RS. It was a 51 plate mint example with a good history and expensive oil, even after this it destroyed the piston within a fortnight, it had an aftermarket piston fitted! Loads of other issues - shock failed, speedo drives failed twice, electrics are dodgy, powervalve sticks, etc.. When they are going well they are superb but if you buy one make sure you have got good public transport or a push bike for back up. He has an SV 650 now, now problems.

the rs is a brill bike for its size but the reliabilty can be a issue if you don t warm it correct and use very good oil ($$$$) motul 500 is the best . The handling is better than most big bike s so the concer speed is very good . There is alot of people saying there rs will do 120 mph but this is VERY unlikely most will do 105 mph but any more and it will break . So if you treat the rs as a 80 mph bike and blast to 100 then and a again its fun all the way

Had mine for about a year from new when piston rings needed replacing. It seized in march '07, from an unknown reason (i was using the correct oil and it was fully warmed up etc). I finally got it back on the 20th of September... It looks stunning, but the engine is awful. it performs well, when it works, but mine has spent about 50% of it's life in dealers. After sales care is disgraceful, from both dealers I've dealt with. Handling may be amazing, and it may be a sexy bike but it's definitely not worth the problems it brings... just don't buy one!

Now...for a teenager this is the bike for you, espesh the new rs125 (06/07 model) the shape is arodynamicly perfect, the frame is made of a silicone alloy which is strong and looks gr8! The bike rides even better than it looks!!!!!!!! never had any real problems with it! spedo stoped workin and the exhaust has corroded but other than that its a dream!!!! as long as you look after it, it will look after you. i clean, wax and oil mine weekly and it keeps the bike in shape! so aslong as your willing to do this then the bike should last a hell of a lot longer than most of these teenagers that just rag there bikes and dont give a crap!! cost wise...i think they are very expensive to buy but your getting looks, quality and reliability! style is everything to me and this bike says it all really! speed... well mine goes 70mph restricted and should go a hell of alot faster when the 33bhp is released!! All i can say is buy now!!!

If you're buying a two-stroke bike you have to expect running costs and reliability issues. The bike is by far the best 125 on the market and has been for years. Stuff what the riders of fireblades and ZX-10s think, its not like they have never had to ride a moped is it. I need to regularly polish mine and the frame gets very "foisty" and dulls, I had to replace the exhaust due to corrosion and the immobliser/alarm that came fitted has turned out to be much more trouble than it's worth. A high maintenance bike that more than makes up for it with ear to ear sized grins. Strengths: Styling, Handling, general feel, insurance costs (compared to bigger bikes), HISTORY AND HERITAGE. Weaknesses: parts take months to be delivered, breakers like to charge copius amounts for bits and bats. The whole owners manual is Italian, It's a two stroke so it needs regular attention.

A great handling machine with Italian flair and panache. I've owned the bike for 4 years and love it but not without a few problems. It begs to be ridden hard but this can seriously affect the longevity of the engine. Cracking bike that needs alot of tlc. Running cost can be high when it comes time to fix things. Strengths; Pin sharp handling, good brakes and the smell of burnt two stroke oil. An addictive combination. A great introduction into sports bikes and what they're capable of. Weaknesses: False neutrals happen unless gearbox oil is changed regularly and chain tension kept spot on. Runs too cold in winter (cover part of the radiator). Brakes need to be well looked after ( use a braided line on front) fast road pads work well in dry, not so good in the wet. Engines let go regularly with no warning, this normally takes out barrel and piston: £250 parts plus 4 or 5 hours labour. Use the best synthetic oil you can find. Eats speedo drives, known fault £40!

As a 32 year old rider, I have had a few smirks from riders of bigger 4 strokes, I soon wipe the smile off their faces on the twistie B roads where I live! These bikes are just so entertaining, the handling is forgiving and razor sharp, keep in the power bans and the response is instant, and the low weight allows outrageous cornering. Just perfect for new riders to sharpen their skills before progressing to something larger. Strengths: Performance for size of engine, handling, entertaining riding experience, a 2 stroke in a world of 4 strokes. Weaknesses: Plenty of TLC needed to keep it sharp, although mine has been very reliable too date. Running expenses often a shock too 17 year old riders, leading to many knackered ones out their.

Had mine three months from new when the piston seized. Dealer didn't want to know and neither did Aprilia UK. It's a good bike but very fragile and not suited to the British weather (exhaust corroded after 2 months). Maybe I had a bad dealer but felt let down by Aprilia. Will NEVER buy one again. Strengths: Looks, cornering ability. Weaknesses: fragile engine, corrodes quickly, bad aftersales in my case.