APRILIA SRV850 (2012 - 2016) Review
Highlights
- Very fast, powerful scooter
- Emphasis on comfort over handling
- One of the cheapest big scooters out there
At a glance
| Owners' reliability rating: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 76 bhp |
| Seat height: | Low (30.7 in / 780 mm) |
| Weight: | High (549 lbs / 249 kg) |
Overall rating
Next up: Ride & brakesThe Aprilia SRV 850 is the world’s most powerful maxi scooter and is loads of fun but has an unfinished feel, with iffy suspension and a lack of attention to detail.
If outrunning hot hatches on a step-thru is you’re thing, you’ll love it. If you buy it believing Aprilia’s claim that it corners like a sports bike, you’ll be disappointed. It’s essentially a tweaked and rebadged Gilera GP800 with a claimed one extra bhp. The sharper RSV superbike-derived styling alone has made that a worthwhile endeavour.
Ride quality & brakes
Next up: EngineHandling is vague. The front wheel feels far away. The suspension seems under-sprung and under-damped.
Too much front suspension travel is taken up just by sitting on it. On high-speed bumps, both front and rear suspension threaten to bottom out.
Engine
Next up: ReliabilityFeels exactly like what it is - a 76bhp V-twin motorbike engine crammed into a scooter. Big twist-and-gos often have a delayed throttle response. Not this. Twist your wrist and it just goes. And goes. And goes. The only let-down is the engine noise. It’s not as loud and throaty as you’d expect from a big V-twin. In fact it sounds far too much like a scooter.
Reliability & build quality
Next up: ValueThe slightest hint of a gradient is enough for the SRV to roll off its side stand, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage to those shiny plastics. It’s got a handbrake and you have to use it. Aprilia could have saved a lot of owners from inevitable heartache by linking the parking brake to the side stand à la BMW’s C600 Sport and C650GT.
Value vs rivals
Next up: EquipmentIt’s one of the cheapest big scooters available, undercutting Yamaha’s 530cc T-Max by £900 and BMW’s C600 Sport by £1600. Granted it’s not as good as those but you can’t have everything. You won’t find a faster scooter for less.
Equipment
Not great for a scooter. You get no glove compartments and space for only one helmet under the seat. The chain final drive seems like an unnecessary inconvenience. The screen is not adjustable and there’s no ABS.
Specs |
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| Engine size | 839cc |
|---|---|
| Engine type | 90º V-twin four-stroke, SOHC, eight valves, electronic fuel injection, liquid cooled. CVT transmission, chain final drive |
| Frame type | Double cradle high strength tubular steel |
| Fuel capacity | 18.5 litres |
| Seat height | 780mm |
| Bike weight | 249kg |
| Front suspension | 41mm fork with 122mm travel. |
| Rear suspension | Laterally mounted monoshock with seven-position spring preload adjustment. |
| Front brake | Twin 300mm semi-floating discs with Brembo double piston 28mm floating calipers. |
| Rear brake | Single 280mm disc with 25.4mm double piston caliper. |
| Front tyre size | 120/70-R16 57H |
| Rear tyre size | 160/60-R15 67H |
Mpg, costs & insurance |
|
| Average fuel consumption | 38 mpg |
|---|---|
| Annual road tax | £117 |
| Annual service cost | - |
| New price | - |
| Used price | - |
| Insurance group |
- How much to insure? |
| Warranty term | Two year unlimited mileage |
Top speed & performance |
|
| Max power | 76 bhp |
|---|---|
| Max torque | 56.3 ft-lb |
| Top speed | 126 mph |
| 1/4 mile acceleration | - |
| Tank range | 157 miles |
Model history & versions
Model history
- 2012: Model introduced
- 2016: Bike goes off sale
Other versions
The SRV 850 is a tweaked and rebadged Gilera GP800, which also suffers from iffy handling. The SRV has a claimed one more bhp than the Gilera and better high-speed stability, not to mention sharper looks.
Owners' reviews for the APRILIA SRV850 (2012 - 2016)
6 owners have reviewed their APRILIA SRV850 (2012 - 2016) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your APRILIA SRV850 (2012 - 2016)
Summary of owners' reviews |
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| Overall rating: | |
|---|---|
| Ride quality & brakes: | |
| Engine: | |
| Reliability & build quality: | |
| Value vs rivals: | |
| Equipment: | |
Year: 2014
Every biker should at least have a go on one, its a different kind of fun.
Year: 2013
Best, so easy to ride,comfy ,just great .worst, if being picky fork and shock std could be better, this can be over come just like any other bike just through money at it.
Easy to ride, you can ride all day, get off and still feel good, passenger has loads of room just need a back rest.
For most riders it's great, if you think you're the fastest rider out there you might want a bigger toy.
I may have been lucky with mine ,not had any issues realy, build quality ,nothing messy it all fits together well ,only one thing could have been better ,it could have had proper bolts holding the panels on instead of self tappers.
Easy to do, just buy oils and filters other than that just basic stuff.
Best , rev and go, the power is always there.back rest for passenger, are tyres rosso work well
Buying experience: Got from dealer ,easy no problems, Coloperb motor cycles.
Year: 2012
stylish and powerful scooter
Brembo brakes give superb grip when breaking
really powerful similar to sport bike when accelerate
easy maintenance and great design with excellent finishing
considered affordable price against other maxiscooter
can fix with universal accessories and top box when require
Buying experience: Easy loan and with low interest offered
Well over a year on of srv ownership and it still 12k later is putting a smile on my face . The motor is still a real peach and has never failed to do what has been asked of it . I have had a few issues mostly small nuisance things like the fuel gauge which just does not work as it should ,but has been addressed . I have done 400 mile + rides on it with no problems ,hard and fast. Twisty rides with m8s on sports bikes who have been really surprised when the srv is always big in there mirrors . Yes it could be a bit bettering the suspension department ,which I will be addressing to suit my needs. When the time comes . I have found that the Michelin. Pure 2ct tyre to be best suited with faultless grip ,unfortunately Michelin have still not made a front available to match the rear so it's a mix with the older pilot sc on the front . Tyre ware has been approx 4.5k to the ware bars . I think however aprilia should bring it up to date a bit with a nice digital dash so you can read the mph . Compared to others it's not got all the storage space etc ,but it is a lot cheaper to purchase . I do feel its a lot better than a few reviews have made it out to be when comparing it to what we all think a scooter is . I wish I had got a maxi years ago they are a hoot .
If you want a superbike or a scooter, go get one, stupid. The SRV is neither, thankfully. Of course it doesn't compare well to either extreme, but if you want a good compromise of performance and functionality, thrills and comfort, this is it and you won't be disappointed. Theres nothing better (well, I haven't tried the BMW C600GT yet, but I have ridden all the other competition).
I have a need to change from motorcycles because of a disability which is causing normal bike riding to be a painful affair . So i bit the bullet and tried the the srv850 ,What a hoot to ride the motor is a peach.I found it to roll on and accelerate past traffic comfortably .I found it very comfortable .I like the sporty looks of the bike as well .The only downsides i found were the speedo MPH is very hard to read and that my full face helmet did not fit in the storage space under the seat .Overall the test ride has convinced me that this is the route to go rather than spend a load more money converting another motorcycle to fit my needs .
