Aprilia SR 150 Race First Ride

In the land of 'yeh dil mange more' it is never a bad idea to add more to what is already being offered and the Italian motorcycle maker Aprilia has learned that quickly. Their first crossover scooter in India, the SR 150 was warmly received due to its unparalleled performance and cutting edge looks. But then I guess someone somewhere said that they don't just want their SR 150 to go fast but also scream that it does so. Thus we got the new SR 150 Race, donning the RS-GP inspired graphics.

While I absolutely loved the Dark Knight styled colour scheme of the original SR 150 (I still do), the new graphics add a different kind of flair. While the original was more about subtlety the new Race edition is the polar opposite. Even while it is standing still it radiates the racing DNA and lineage that the company has. The bright colours are an accurate representation of the liveliness of this 150cc scooter. The 14inch alloys now come in red colour while the front 220mm disc gets a gold coloured caliper.

If you look at the spec sheet of the new SR 150 Race you will find that it is still powered by the same 154.8cc single cylinder engine putting out 10.4hp @ 6750rpm and 11.4 Nm of torque at 5000rpm. Considering the fact that the new Race edition costs only about Rs 3000 more than the normal SR 150 you would not expect any change here but Aprilia has tweaked it to boost the acceleration even further. As if it wasn't already quick enough! The suspension is slightly stiffer and Aprilia claims to have tinkered with the CVT transmission as well to provide for an even quicker acceleration. While I did not have enough time and access to a normal SR 150 to test this out properly, in this first experience of the scooter, it is still safe to say that the difference is not super noticeable.

Apart from these things the Race edition shares that same pluses and minus of the normal version. The seat is comfortable and is long enough for two people. The foot board is decently long but not the best in terms of leg space. The underseat storage area is also only big enough to house some papers or a small bag. In real world performance you can expect a fuel efficiency of close to 40kmph if you drive carefully but that is hardly going to be the case. The large tyres provide good contact with the tarmac below even while tackling sharp hairpins.

One thing that I did feel that Aprilia could have done with the new SR 150 Race is to provide an option for an ABS. While the front 220mm disc and the rear 140mm drum get the job done in most cases, this new Race edition would have been the perfect opportunity to add ABS, even if came at a slightly higher cost. This could have really helped tame this beast at high speeds.

The SR 150 Race does not have a real and direct competition as of now, except for the normal SR 150 which begs the question, "Is it worth the extra money?" I feel that the extra amount you spend for the Race edition is totally justified because of the cosmetic changes that are exclusive to this version of the scooter and the changes make it one of the most recognisable two wheelers on the streets. The slight increase in acceleration is welcome as well. So in that case the biggest reason why someone would want to go for the normal version would probably be the colour preference. On the other hand if you are someone like me who prefers his vehicle to look a little more subtle then you could rather well go for the one without the word “Race” added to it!