Introduction
After a gap of almost 5 years, GaadiKey is back with an Aprilia scooter review. The Italian brand, Aprilia has a terrific growth story in India -from a mere one 150cc scooter (Read SR 150 Review) in 2016 to a portfolio of premium automatic scooters now in 2022. We have with us the next-generation Aprilia SR160 scooter which has been recently launched in India. What follows below is a detailed review of Aprilia SR160.
Design
The Aprilia SR160 sports a European design language which is both edgy and contemporary. The tri-color design in the front of the scooter reminds you of the Italian heritage of this brand. The large 14-inch diameter wheels make this scooter stand out from the crowd. The other highlight is the X-shaped LED tail lamp, the Aprilia logo on the bottom panels of the scooter, premium stickers that gives a sporty look. The front fascia of the scooter is appealing, it has got a tall stance, because of the 14 inch tyres. The front headlight features LED tech lights which is always ON.
The Red backlit instrument cluster of the SR160 certainly deserves an appreciation – it has plenty of rider friendly information which is well-organized and readable. The front instrument cluster houses a numerical speedometer, RPM meter, mileage indicator, average, top speed indicator, time display, trip meters, odometer, engine temperature indication and ambient temperature indication. By using mode switch from the handlebar, one could explore rider-friendly facts via the digital display. Distance-to-Empty indicator gives friendly reminder about the remaining commuting distance. The average fuel economy indicator helps the rider to analyse the fuel consumption during his trip.
The scooter misses on navigation and other bluetooth based connectivity options.
Engine and Specs
At the heart of the scooter is the Single Cylinder, 4 stroke, Air cooled, SOHC, 3 valves 160cc engine which is mated to an automatic gearbox. The engine is BS6 compliant. This powerful engine churns out a maximum power of 10.86 bhp @ 7600 rpm and has a maximum torque of 11.6 Nm @ 6000 rpm. The scooter measures 1985mm in length, 806 mm in width and has a wheelbase of 1365 mm. The scooter is moderately light and weights about 118 Kgs.
The fuel tank capacity of Aprilia SR160 is 6 litres (includes 1 litre reserve) which is definitely bigger than other scooters in the market (4.5 litres is the norm). Both of the tyres are tubeless and measures 120/70 – 14”.
Ride and Handling
SR160 offers a great riding stability. Ergonomically it is a well-designed scooter providing you a very stress-free riding experience – the handlebars are optimally positioned to reach the rider’s hand. The front foot floor is flat and offers an ample space to place your leg – this helps you to sit in a comfortable riding position .
Manoeuvring through busy junctions / bumper-to-bumper traffic is easy . The rider can feel the sturdy body and it is very agile to make zig-zag turns. It is actually a treat for you to ride this roaring powerful scooter on the highways. The dependable disc brakes that are ABS powered is good enough to bring high power output of ~11 bhp to an halt in seconds. The acceleration sound is rough but it is a music to riders who love to feel the sporty nature of the scooter. The scooter’s front forks and mono shock unit at the back, combined with the large 14-inch diameter wheels make suspension handling excellent in this scooter. The scooter comes with a well-integrated foot pegs, that looks funky and also helps the pillion rider at the back to comfortably sit.
Space
The scooter’s under seat storage is not so big – not so small either. It can perfectly fit a medium-sized helmet – the under seat storage is well-lit by a dedicated lamp to spot your things in dark parking spots. You can make use of the in-built USB charging socket to charge your phone/mp3 player on the go. The hook in the front helps you carry shopping bag. Overall, the scooter offers an ample space for your everyday commute. The presence of fuel-filler inlet under the seat, could be of an issue if you are a frequent visitor to petrol pump.
Brakes and Suspension
Brakes are superior – The front wheel of Aprilia SR160 is equipped with disc brakes with ABS (Anti-lock Braking system), when activated, it helps you to control the scooter efficiently without locking the tyres. Very few scooters in India features ABS tech, It is a compliance for scooter makers to provide mandatory ABS when the engine capacity exceeds 150cc. The SR160 clearly wins over its competition because of its updated safety features.
The scooter performs flawlessly on un-even surfaces and on off-road conditions, thanks to its suspension system – 30 mm inner tube front fork and 120mm Mono-shock absorber at the rear.
Colors, Variants and Price
The Aprilia SR160 comes in 5 distinct colors: Red, White, Blue, Red and Silver. We got to test the white version of the scooter during our review. The SR160 series is offered in 3 variants – the standard (one which is reviewed here), the Carbon edition and the race edition. The ex-showroom price of standard Aprilia SR160 scooter in Bangalore is Rs 1.18 lakhs.
Verdict
Should you buy SR160? The answer is Yes if you are a fan of Aprilia brand and its sporty look inspired by Italian design. The premium which you pay for the brand, style and looks justifies when compared to other average looking automatic scooters in the market. SR160 is very powerful, offers high quality riding experience, great comfort and ergonomics, superior ABS braking system with good suspension. Features like mobile connectivity with navigation, kill switch, external fuel filler could have been added for a scooter at this price point.
This review happened in Bangalore and the scooter was picked up from Switch Start Motors, Kalyan nagar.
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