So, I'm buying one.

However, being the prepared human being, I'm gunna need some tips on how to look after, what is basically, a fragile race engine.

Things I'm aware about, from reading the interwebnet- :

• Use good 2 stroke oil (Already sorted, Castrol at £12 a bottle...:schwitz
  
• Don't thrash it until it's been warmed up fully
  
• Even when you do thrash it, only thrash it for a little while, then back off and let it cool down
  
• Aware of the need to get a top end rebuild around 10k mules
  

That's about as far as my knowledge goes, it's been a while since I've had a motorcycle, and it's going to be my first road bike (others were offroad)

It'll be the newer shape (2006 onwards) one, if that affects anything.

Regardless of which, what are the perks, potential problems and things I need to be aware of?

o_O



Regards, S14

Your main problem is the fact you don't have enough wheels, you have to wear a helmet, you dress up like a Power Ranger, your sweaty and sticky on hot days, or wet through on wet days. You don't have a heater, you can't take anymore than one passenger. There are others, but they are the main ones.

Glad your still alive babe.

Quote from The General Lee :

you dress up like a Power Ranger

I'll give you ten quid if you buy pink leathers.

Quote from The General Lee :

Your main problem is the fact you don't have enough wheels, you have to wear a helmet, you dress up like a Power Ranger, your sweaty and sticky on hot days, or wet through on wet days. You don't have a heater, you can't take anymore than one passenger. There are others, but they are the main ones.

Glad your still alive babe.

Ha ha...Ha ... NO.

Why would I want to take a passenger, that ruins then fun

I already have my kit, the stuff I use when I go out with my dad - I look in no way like a power-ranger...More like a gay cowboy with a leather jacket.

Two wheels only. Won't be alive for long though! Stop being an unsociable twat () and come on MSN or something Niall.

Kev, fak you. That's a hell no.

Aprilia RS125 = weeeeeee BANG weeeeeeeee BANG weeeeeeee BANG continue untill you get fed up with rebuilding the engine

Quote from S14 DRIFT :

So, I'm buying one.

However, being the prepared human being, I'm gunna need some tips on how to look after, what is basically, a fragile race engine.

Things I'm aware about, from reading the interwebnet- :

• Use good 2 stroke oil (Already sorted, Castrol at £12 a bottle...:schwitz
  
• Don't thrash it until it's been warmed up fully
  
• Even when you do thrash it, only thrash it for a little while, then back off and let it cool down
  
• Aware of the need to get a top end rebuild around 10k mules
  

That's about as far as my knowledge goes, it's been a while since I've had a motorcycle, and it's going to be my first road bike (others were offroad)

It'll be the newer shape (2006 onwards) one, if that affects anything.

Regardless of which, what are the perks, potential problems and things I need to be aware of?

o_O



Regards, S14

I have heard to use good quality fuel, I found a site that tells you the best way to maintain it, cant think of the correct site, I think the fuels are Shell Optimax BP Ultimate.

A site what will tell you a little what to look out for: http://www.maxmoto.co.uk/aprilia_rs125.shtml

Hope this helps a little, best is to search google, there are some good sites around that gives you tips on maintaining Aprilia's.

I'm not sure if this applies to the rs125 aswell but the Rs50's get crappy tyres when you buy them new. I don't know if you plan driving in the rain but if you are, try to get some proper tyres on it. I recommend Michelin Sporty's because they really are great both on sunny days and in the rain!

Yeah, I think I read that site Sam, that's where I found out some of the other stuff

Rikje, I wouldn't know on that one, hehe. I was thinking of getting those Pilot 2 tyres (My dad has them on his Tiger) if they do them in the right sizes, or failing that I was going to get Pirelli Diablos.


Danowat, thanks for the vote of confidence

the engine WILL go wrong, it's just a matter of when and how much it'll cost, do you REALLY want one?, I would suggest going down the CBR125 route, ok, it's not that fast, but it's cheaper (much) to run, and the engine will go on and on forever, plus they don't look half bad.

Don't get me wrong, I love Aprilia, heck, I've got one!!!, but the RS125 is a real trial as a road bike.

On the tips of ownership for the RS50 it states to change the Pistons and Rings every 18 months, don't know if this should go for the 125 also.

Also I dont think the CBR125 doesn't actually look that nice, think it's an ugly bike.

Sweet choice. You'll need a piss pot helmet to allow for the huge grin.!!!
Its a crying shame that pollution and emissions blah blah have almost killed the 2 stroker. Gonna get the RS250 after...?

Quote from danowat :

the engine WILL go wrong, it's just a matter of when and how much it'll cost, do you REALLY want one?, I would suggest going down the CBR125 route, ok, it's not that fast, but it's cheaper (much) to run, and the engine will go on and on forever, plus they don't look half bad.

Don't get me wrong, I love Aprilia, heck, I've got one!!!, but the RS125 is a real trial as a road bike.

Doesn't look half bad? It looks like a bike stuck in the Mid 90's!! It has no soul and no passion.



After I've done my full test I'm looking to moving onto something like the SV650s or Kwaker ER6-f

We'll see, depends on money

Quote from S14 DRIFT :

Doesn't look half bad? It looks like a bike stuck in the Mid 90's!! It has no soul and no passion.



After I've done my full test I'm looking to moving onto something like the SV650s or Kwaker ER6-f

We'll see, depends on money

OOOOOO the irony!!! LMAO

I've always been told to avoid Aprilia because when they do go wrong you need to sell body parts to get it fixed.

As such I'd stick to jap bikes (read: Honda),they are cheap to run and source parts for, plus the engines are made out of titanium, granite and kryptonite.

Quote from P5YcHoM4N :

I've always been told to avoid Aprilia because when they do go wrong you need to sell body parts to get it fixed.

As such I'd stick to jap bikes (read: Honda),they are cheap to run and source parts for, plus the engines are made out of titanium, granite and kryptonite.

Not overly true, their v-twins are very reliable, mine has been everywhere, done 1500 miles in one weekend in Europe, never missed a beat, done 13,000 miles on it, and it's been faultless.

Their 2 strokes however.............

Quote from danowat :

OOOOOO the irony!!! LMAO

Ha, Ha.. Ha ha..

No..

The SV650 is as pretty nice all rounder, it has a strong enough engine, good enough handling, and what's more, it's one of the easiest bikes to customize, which means you can personalize it.

It also has a lovely noise when fitted with some aftermarket cans.


The ER6-f is a good looking bike, I'm not sure what ER6 you're thinking of, but the one I'm thinking of looks like this.

It was the no soul, no passion thing , although the SV is a pretty decent bike TBH, it's a twin, which is a plus

One thing I'm aware of, from loading all kinds of standed European-made bikes that pals have owned, on to the back of pick-ups: buy a Japanese motorbike.

Quote from xaotik :

One thing I'm aware of, from loading all kinds of standed European-made bikes that pals have owned, on to the back of pick-ups: buy a Japanese motorbike.

Sweeping generalizations not from personal experiances FTW!!!!.

Maybe years ago I would agree, but these days, Italian bikes are as reliable as pretty much anything from the land of the rising sun.

Quote from danowat :

Sweeping generalizations not from personal experiances FTW!!!!.

Actually, I was the one doing the "loading on the pick-up" in all occasions. The record-holder is my pal's Cagiva, a german guy who believes in scheduled servicing of his vehicles. So far we've hauled it 3 times in a span of 2 years. It has also had other minor failures that weren't show-stoppers so he could limp it back home. Second in line was a friend's KTM which luckily got swapped for a Yamaha recently - that KTM came up with the best ever kaputt when the cylinder head cracked.

Cagiva?, ahhh, you never said it was a Cagiva LOL

Yeah, I'm trying to remember if that two-stroke another friend owned some years back was an Aprilia or a Gilera - keeping that thing running a hobby of it's own, I'd seen the engine on a bench in his garage more times than in the bike itself. I'd have to ask him... hrm, those guys went through many bikes come to think of it.

Going to go look at one tommorow (Well, later today)

Hope it's nice, I'll be buying it if it is

I had an RS50. It ran faultlessly. Just had to make sure it was fully warmed up before going above about 4k rpm.

The reliability reputation is caused by people treating them badly rather than an inherent problem with Aprilia's two-strokes.

get a Cagiva Mitoimo thats the nicest bike

and i dont think the engine on a RS125 will break that easily. I have a friend that have the same bike and he has been very rough with the cycle, driving-vise and it have not broken down once(yet)

and my bestfriend have a Mito and have just rounded 13600 km, got the cycle one year ago(and he drove most of it on the winter) and it still havent broken down