www.motorcyclenews.com/bikereviews
WORLD EXCLUSIVE FIRST RIDE
BY ADAM CHILD PICTURES BY MILAGRO

Scream of

FRAME is now polished for that factory look

APRILIA RS125

Aprilias rev-happy RS125 gets RSV style and uprated brakes to make it every teenagers dream
T may come as some surprise that Aprilias iconic RS125, the definitive seventeener screamer, is now in its 14th year of production. Yet throughout all that time, through countless updates and improvements, its remained the learner racer-replica of choice. And Aprilia want to keep it that way which is why its received a whole load of improvements for 2006.
RSV-style forged top yoke is new
FIRSTLY, the styling. The new RS now closely resembles its larger brother the RSV1000R. And it looks great. Right now, there are probably thousands of youths across the country drooling over these pictures as much as they do over Hollyoaks on a Sunday morning. The fairing and tail section are almost identical to the RSVR, as are the wheels (although obviously smaller). The whole bike has shed 5kg, down to a waif-like 126kg. The aluminium frame is unchanged but is

WHATS NEW?

24 | MOTOR CYCLE NEWS MARCH 22, 2006
On the track you rideit 100% on thelimit and its hilarious fun

Head-to-head

The great 750 showdown: Suzuki GSX-R750 K5 v K6
BY MICHAELNEEVES PICTURES BYHOWARDBOYLAN
THE K5 (left) is a year older, but is the K6 (right) better?

GSX-R750 K5

APRILIA RS125
As the major bike makers wow us with ever faster 1000cc sports bikes and revvier 600s, dont overlook the K4/K5 GSX-R750. The 600-sized GSX-R750 the only serious three-quarter-litre sports bike still made is one of the best all-round, value-formoney sports bikes ever made. Launched in 2004, unchanged for 2005 but for colour schemes, the K4/K5 was all new. With chassis dimensions identical to the superb-handling GSX-R600 and weighing 163kg (lighter than many 600s) it mixes incredibly light steering with rock-solid stability. Its revvy 749cc in-line four delivers just the right amount of power for its chassis. Top speed: 164.32mph. Standing quarter-mile: 10.87secs @ 135.45mph. Top gear acceleration (40-120mph): 13.85 secs Braking 70-0mph: 54.5 metres The K5 is very rapid thanks to its revvy (and torque-laden) powerplant and light weight, but it still couldnt match the K6 under braking even though we tested a K5 with wavy discs which give stronger intial bite. The old GSX-R750 is the roomier of the two bikes. Its more relaxing to ride on longer journeys and youve even got good rear vision, through its long protruding mirrors (not on the new bike). The most noticeable thing is just how easy the K4/K5 is to ride. Throttle response is flawless, the gearbox silky, the steering light, the ride quality exemplary and the engine flexible enough to deal with everyday traffic without having to constantly change gear. Most riders would lap a track quicker on a GSX-R750 than a 1000. The 750 has the same rev-hungry, exhilarating power delivery as a 600 and is every bit as easy to get the most from. Couple that to a stiff chassis that manages to extract the most from the available tyre grip and there arent many bikes that are going to go quicker.
The K4/K5 is still a pearler of a bike fast, easy to ride, packed with attitude and you can get a good one for under 6k.

GSX-R750 K6

How much difference does a year make?
The new K6 GSX-R750 hasnt got loads more power than the old bike that would just make it as hard to ride fast as a 1000. No, all the improvements have gone into making the GSX-R750 smoother, gruntier, more compact and sexier. Best of all, at 7799, its still knockout value for money. The new K6 is much sleeker and

COST: 3616 POWER: (de-restricted) 32bhp WEIGHT: (de-restricted) 125kg TORQUE: (de-restricted) 14.3ftlb
Available: Late March 2006 Colours: Black, white Insurance group (de-restricted; est): 12 (of 17) Info: Aprilia UK, 0161-475-1800
FUEL: 14 litres SEAT HEIGHT: 805mm
What makes more aerodynamic. Its also these bikes tick? shorter, lower and more compact.
It shares its chassis with the all-new GSX-R600. The new motor is up 1cc and has updated fuel injection and a stubby MotoGP-style exhaust complete with a variable exhaust valve. It also has adjustable footrests, new forks and instruments.

WHEELBASE: 1345mm

TECHNICAL SPEC

the crop

polished to give it that factory look. In the cockpit there are new analogue/digital clocks with an onboard computer to impress your mates with your McDonalds run times. Theres an RSVR-style forged top yoke, and the exhaust is also new, with a racy-looking riveted end plate. The Rotax single-cylinder twostroke engine is unchanged, but the forks are completely new and the brakes have had a significant upgrade. Now a single radially-mounted caliper grips the floating single disc. drop below that, it feels like Pat Butcher has jumped on the back. APRILIA UK will be importing both restricted and full power bikes. If you want to de-restrict the bike it needs to be done by your local Aprilia dealer. In simple terms, the power valve doesnt move in restricted form, but is allowed to open freely on the full power bike. Theres also some wire cutting to be done. BRILLIANTLY. The RS125 is so knife-edge sharp, it is affected by the tiniest of rider inputs. It turns very quickly, and once on its side the tyres offer enough grip to allow lean angles that almost have your elbows down. The suspension is slightly crude, though. The forks are too soft, so the rear lifts on the brakes. And when pushing hard, the rear can skip over bumps. But my teenage years are long gone and Ive had far too many pies over the years whippet-like current Aprilia Superteen racer Conner Behan was also at the test and he thought the suspension was on the hard side. So it depends on how much you love McDonalds, as the front suspension is non-adjustable.
Engine: Liquid cooled 124.8cc (54mm x 54.5mm) two-stroke single. DellOrto carburettor. Six gears. Chassis: Aluminium twin-spar frame. Sachs 40mm upsidedown forks. Sachs single rear shock, adjustable for pre-load. Brakes: 320mm front disc with four-piston radial caliper. 220mm rear disc with twinpiston caliper. Tyres: Dunlop Sportmax GPR 70SP, 110/70 x 17 front, 150/60 x 17 rear.

On the test strip

Top speed: 167.87mph Standing quarter-mile: 10.83secs@136.53mph Top gear acceleration (40-120mph): 13.00 secs Braking 70-0mph: 53.7 metres Extra power and better aerodynamics help the new 750 slip its way to a better top speed and better roll-on acceleration, while 10mm bigger brake discs help it to stop quicker over a shorter distance. Its hard to imagine how Suzuki could possibly improve on the old GSX-R750, but they have. The new motor is instantly smoother. Like before, theres no need to dance up and down the gears to make progress, as the engines new-found flexibility means you can ride around all day in top gear. In fact, the K6 is smoother everywhere: the gearbox, suspension, the fluidity of the controls and the brakes. Even the looks have managed to make the old version look dated. Except the new version. Its not that much quicker than before, but its far easier to get the most from. With a smoother throttle response and more mid-range, balancing the K6 at full lean is a piece of cake and theres instant power when you fire it out of a corner. Its a cinch to flick from side to side, too. A slipper clutch also now comes as standard.
The K6 is one of the best sports bikes anywhere. The GSX-R750 is the sports bike of choice and the latest is better than ever.

On the road

CAN I DE-RESTRICT IT?
You can brake later than you ever thought possible due to the massive power of the uprated stoppers. NOT half. On track you ride it 100% on the limit, not daring to let off its hilarious. But it also teaches you so much about riding. You have to be precise and keep your lines smooth. You need to be in the right gear, caning it to within an inch of its life all the time. You think youre a racer every time you press the starter button. The sound and smell of the two-stroke is highly addictive. THIS has got to be every teenagers dream bike. It looks outstanding, its reasonably comfortable, has good build quality and the engines have a reputation for putting up with punishment. Its more than quick enough for a 125, the brakes are awesome and its so much fun to ride. On the down side, the suspension is not as plush as I was expecting. And if Im really picky there is no redline or gearshift indicator, which is slightly annoying. Apart from that its hugely enjoyable, with a fun factor of 10 out of 10. Kids, start bugging your parents now.

SOUNDS FUN

SO HOW QUICK IS IT?

HOW DOES IT HANDLE?

On the track
IN restricted form, its around 15bhp and the bike wont rev freely, but unleash the full 32bhp and its more than enough to make you giggle. We only rode the bike in de-restricted form and at the end of the relatively short straight I managed to stretch the throttle cable long enough to see the digital speedo just past the 160kph mark yup, the magic ton. Below 4000rpm its a different story the RS can only muster the pulling power of an asthmatic octogenarian running a marathon. From 4000 to 7000rpm theres enough go to make progress around town, but if you want to have fun you need to keep it pinned above 7000rpm. If the revs

VERDICT

And the winner is? Specs
Price: 4550-6295 Engine: 749cc inline four Weight: 163kg Top speed: 164mph.
Price: 7799 Engine: 750cc inline four Weight: 163kg Top speed: 167mph.
MARCH 22, 2006 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS | 25

Scooter Design Inspired by a Victory Bike
Aprilia SR 50 and two bikes Aprilia RS 50 and RS 125 are now offered in the same livery and colors as the RSV4 Superbike ridden by Max Biaggi in his first ever win at Brno on Sunday, July 26 th. These three new replicas have just hit the market.
Aprilia SR 50, the world's sportiest 50 cc scooter, was originally launched in1992. It stood apart from its rivals with its cool sports bike characteristics. Aprilia is the first manufacturer to offer 50cc scooter with electronic fuel injector.

APRILIA SR 50

Aprilia RSV4 Superbike
In just two decades Aprilia has become a motorcycle racing legend: 33 world championships and 267 GP wins in the 125 and 250 classes - the youngest and most dynamic Moto GP categories - make Aprilia Italy's most successful brand in existence. And, with this year's return to the Superbike World Championship (in which the marque notched up 8 wins, 8 pole positions and 26 podium placings from 1999 to 2002), Aprilia is once again a force to be reckoned with in the large capacity, production-derived racing bike class: in addition to the win at Brno on Sunday, July 26th, Max Biaggi has already secured four podium placings in the first part of the Superbike season alone. Aprilia has always carried this legacy of success and technical expertise over into its production models, and the influence of this legacy is evident in the philosophy inspiring its products and in their styling, which is often taken directly from the brand's racing machines. The he legend rides on, and gets better. Every year! When the SR 50 first came out, it was already in a class of its own. The sports scooter category was invented specially for it. Now, the SR 50 features an aggressive new design, inspired by the RSV 1000 R Factory, but theres more to it than style! The SR 50 incorporates numerous technical solutions derived directly from Aprilias world-beating maxi, to bring you the tops in equipment and the highest level of active safety you can get. With advanced technology, a legendary name, and guaranteed performance, the new SR is destined to be yet another Aprilia success story. Especially if ridden by people like you.