All Tests – Aprilia RS4 125 Test: the star of the playground (es)! – Really new, the Aprilia RS4 125?

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Aprilia RS4 125 test: the star of the playground (es) !

All Tests - Aprilia RS4 125 Test: the star of the playground (es)! - Really new, the Aprilia RS4 125?

Lovers of sporty 2-stroke motorcycles, take out your handkerchiefs: the Aprilia RS 125 is bowing out, victim of anti-pollution standards. The magic still operates with its successor, the new and ultra-racy RS4 125 4-T ? First try.

Really new, the Aprilia RS4 125 ?

125 sport among the most praised since its release in 1993, the Aprilia RS 125 is about to leave the windows of: "the latest new models will sell out during the year, depending on stocks available in stores", explains Stephane Gautier, press manager of Aprilia France..

This disappearance is almost tragic for some, as its famous 2-stroke single-cylinder (whose power could go from 15 to 34 hp in three key strokes of 12!) Caused the stir of many young people – and some not so young! – bikers. In this case, more than 100,000 around the world according to Aprilia, which owes it its status as a leader in the 125 cc sport segment..

Scrapping of a company that bans any form of motorization other than a 4-stroke cycle, the Italian is forced to give way to the RS4 125, a brand new 124.8 cc bomber unveiled the last year at the Milan Motor Show (read our).

Designed around a 4-stroke unit, this little sports car is however not as "new" as that: behind its finely chiseled lines, directly modeled on the sculptural RSV4 (read in particular our), hides a Derbi GPR barely modified (read our).

Thus, the double overhead camshaft engine of the RS4 125, its superb aluminum perimeter frame, its "banana" type swing arm on the right side, but also the 300 mm disc brake (!) Pinched by a radial caliper or the exhaust aesthetically hidden in the bottom of the fairing are exactly the same as on the Spanish "cousin".

Only the suspensions differ slightly: the Aprilia exhibits a fork with 41 mm sheaths (against 40 on the Derbi) and the travel of its mono-shock absorber fixed without link is greater (130 mm against 120). As on the Derbi, these generously sized suspensions cannot be adjusted in either preload, rebound or compression. Finally, the Aprilia RS4 125 saddle culminates at 820 mm (20 mm more than on the GPR) and its tank holds 14.5 l, i.e. half a liter more..

The RS 50 is dead, long live the RS4 50 !
The RS 125 2-stroke is not the only one to leave the Aprilia catalog: its little sister, the RS 50, is also being pushed into retirement. Its successor, the RS4 50, takes exactly the design of the RS4 125, with the exception of the silencer coming out on the right side of the 50. Powered by a 49.9 cc 2-stroke single cylinder, this novelty is expected for the beginning of June 2011 at a price of 3299 euros.

A "recycling" that is as economical as it is logical for the Piaggio group (owner of Aprilia and Derbi, but also of Moto Guzzi, Vespa and Gilera). Because between developing – at great expense – a second sports 125 cc or scooters and other MP3 accessible to B licenses which sell like hot cakes, the choice is quickly made for the largest manufacturer of two-wheelers in Europe..

On the other hand, with 36 world titles and 282 speed Grand Prix victories (125 and 250 cc combined) Aprilia is also the most "capped" of small-cylinder manufacturers: the RS4 125 could not therefore ignore this glorious heritage and offers as an option, for the first time on a production 125, a shifter that allows you to shift gears without disengaging as on a real racing motorcycle !

Baptized Quick Shift as on the Hypersport RSV4 Factory APRC (read our), this new device will be offered at a price of 109 € TTC according to Aprilia engineers interviewed during this press launch organized on the Vairano circuit, in the vicinity of Milan.

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