Aprilia SR 150 Race First Ride Review

How does it ride?

One of the major shortcomings of the SR150 has been fixed on the Race edition – the rear brake. It works, has enough power and bite to stop the scooter without any help from the front brake and there’s also a decent amount of feedback.

Powering the SR150 Race is the same 150cc single-cylinder motor which produces 10.4bhp at 7650rpm and 11.4Nm at 5000rpm. This engine is known for its quick acceleration and acceptable top speed. But Piaggio went on and changed the gear ratios of the CVT to make the Race edition a bit faster from rest. Piaggio claims that the scooter is one second faster than the standard SR150 in a standard 400 metre drag race. This change has made the Race edition marginally quicker from rest and in roll-on acceleration, which is quite useful in city traffic.

Other than this, nothing has changed on the SR150 Race. The ride is still so stiff that the handle still jars your hands, and your back will still need a massage. The plus point of this suspension setup is the handling. Just point the SR150 Race in the chosen direction and the scooter will obey without any disappointment. However, it requires smooth roads for this to happen - a bumpy road is accompanied by a drop in confidence and therefore, pace.

Anything else should I know?

The Italian manufacturer has taken some effort to get the SR150 Race cosmetically right. This scooter is dipped in a new grey shade and over that, the company has used up a lot of MotoGP-inspired graphics. Green body graphics on the fascia and side are now present. The 14-inch wheels are red which give it outstanding character. To go with the wheels, the Italian manufacturer has painted the rear spring red too. There’s also the motorcycle-like gold finish on the front brake calliper.

We have also discovered that the SR150 Race will not get a performance racing kit which includes a ‘Race Boom’ muffler and change in carburettion. The extra performance will be derived from a richer air-fuel mixture alone.

Why should I buy one?

If you’re not a fan of the white or black SR150s, the Race paint scheme looks outstanding. The RS-GP inspired graphics do add more flavour and glamour. There are no additional features, or things that can be showed off to the standard SR150 buyers.

Where does it fit in?

Just like the standard SR150 trim, the Aprilia SR150 Race edition doesn’t have any direct rival. At Rs 70,288 (ex-showroom Mumbai), this sporty scooter is Rs 9584 cheaper than the most affordable Vespa – the SXL 125. At the other end, there’s the Honda Activa 125 which is Rs 3916 cheaper than the SR150 Race at Rs 66,312 (ex-showroom Mumbai).