The Italian auto maker Piaggio entered into India with multiple two-wheeler brands couple of years back, most of their brands are expensive and holds quite a lot of premium. Out of these brands the brand Aprilia possesses special place in the minds of our youth. However, the Aprilia motorcycles are highly expensive and they are out of reach for most of the enthusiasts, the Italian manufacturer recently established their manufacturing facility at Baramati, Mahahrashtra, which has changed every bit for the Italian company.Piaggio being Italian is known for their world class craftsmanship throughout the globe, their products are consider as priced possession for all the two-wheeler enthusiasts. The quality never comes cheap, hence there is always a premium associated with all the brands come under Piaggio. However, with the help of local manufacturing the Italy based company now able to produce cheaper products, and the new Aprilia SR 150 is one such product that Piaggio has recently come up with.
Design & Style:
The Aprilia SR 150 is without any doubt one product whose design and style element needs to be discussed. From every angle the power scooter looks distinctly European, be it the dual headlamps mounted on the apron of the scooter or the class leading 14 inch alloy wheels, everything testifies the Italian DNA of the scooter. Inspired by the RSV1000 of Aprilia the new SR 150 is one beautifully crafted machine.
The SR 150 in fact has its own class as there is no other competitor in the market, one can consider the one of its own kind SR 150 a segment leader until Hero brings in their promised power scooter in the same category- ZIR. The beaky design of the SR 150 along with the big tyres makes it stand out of the crowd. There are sharp edges everywhere beautifully amalgamated with the seductive curves, the blinkers are positioned at the handlebar.Features:
The new Aprilia SR 150 comes featured with steel chassis; the rigid frame along with the stiff suspension onboard makes the handling of the sports scooter one notch ahead with rest of the scooters. In fact the new SR 150 should not be considered as “Scooter” it is more than a scooter in terms of handling and comfort. There is telescopic front shock absorber featured on the SR 150, the beefy front fork aids to the comfort and handling of the scootrette. On the other hand there is mono suspension featured on the rear, mounted on the side of the frame.
The bigger 14 inch alloy wheels featured on the Aprilia SR 150 not only add to the aesthetics of the scooter but also contribute to the superior handing. The 14 inch tubeless tyres shod on the SR 150 are imported ones as no tyre manufacturer in the country makes tyres of the same specification. It is expected that the same will be followed until our indigenous tyre companies or other active tyre makers come up with the same specification of tyres in India.
There is all analog meter console featured on the Aprilia SR 150, this can be considered as cost cutting measure taken by the Italian. There are two round dials with white background and orange colored needles making the instrument panel not only beautiful but also practical. The bigger dial consists of Speedometer and Odometer, whereas the smaller one is featured with fuel gauge. No trip meter or tachometer is given onboard, only other tell tale lights are provided.Engine & Performance:
The Aprilia SR 150 is equipped with 154.4cc air cooled, SOHC engine, it is same triple valve CVT engine that we’ve already witnessed on Vespa 150. The mill is capable to produce 11.7 Ps of power at 7000 Rpm and peak torque of 11.5 Nm at 5500 Rpm. Performance wise the engine is tried and tested and you can expect a fun filled ride when it is plonked on stiff steel chassis of SR 150. The apparently small looking Aprilia SR 150 is not small at all, with the kerb weight of 122 Kg it stands 775mm tall at its seat height. One can expect top whack of more than 90 Kmph on the new Aprilia SR 150 with the estimated fuel economy of 43-45 kmpl, which is not bad at all for a performance sport scooter like Aprilia SR 150.
Price & Verdict:
With the aid of local manufacturing, Piaggio managed to bring down the manufacturing cost of the new Aprilia SR 150 and passed on to the end user. The Aprilia SR 150 is the cheapest Aprilia one can buy at a price tag of Rs 65,000 (Ex-Showroom). At a price point like this the Aprilia SR 150 is a dream come true for many admirers of the brand Aprilia. We are sure that if Piaggio manages to handle the after sale service and spare parts availability, which they are going to handle through their existing Vespa and Motoplex network, they will certainly make a dent in the highly potent two-wheeler market in India.By: Farhan Kashif
