APRILIA RX50 (1997 - 2005) Review

The Aprilia RX50's chassis isn't really aimed at serious off-road action, it's more of a Supermoto really, with beefy 40mm upside down front forks and a braced swingarm, plus monoshock at the back. Disc brakes front and rear enable the Aprilia RX50 rider to brake incredibly late going into roundabouts and the motorcycle even has braided brake lines.

The Aprilia RX50's engine is only 50cc of course, but once de-restricted the Aprilia motor makes enough poke to get you to about 50mph on a good day. If you look after it by using top quality oil then the motor will stand a fair bit of stick. Excellent gearbox too.

No 50cc motorcycle can indefinitely take the kind of abuse which is routinely dished out by your average teenager, but the Aprilia RX50 is likely to withstand more cack-handed riding than most two-stroke rivals. It might even survive attempts at `tuning', which is usually carried out by imbeciles who haven't had their Ritalin that day. If you can find an unmolested Aprilia RX50, then it will last 10,000 miles without major problems.

You get what you pay for in the world of 50cc motorcycles and there are plenty of sub £1000 moped trailbikes to be had on the internet. But consider the possibility that you may need to claim on that manufacturer's warranty, or crash due to showing off outside a girl's house and need spare parts. That is why the Aprilia RX50 costs two grand - there is back up - although being Italian you may find spares in July and August are hard to come by, as the entire country goes on holiday for eight weeks.

Electronic ignition, Euro 2 emissions compliant motor, slick 6-speed gearbox, plus top class suspension kit - the Aprilia RX50 has plenty of good stuff and feels like it was made to last a few years, not five minutes like some other 50cc moped trailbikes.