Aprilia SR 50 reviews

This bike seems to turns heads everywhere I ride. Just bought it new 11/03 from my local Aprilia dealer, it is the rare GP-1 model. It was between this and the 2004 Ninja 250R and the Aprilia won me over. The RS50 was a more expensive and not as powerful, but more than makes up for that in different areas. It is rare, exotic and looks like a true GP racing bike. I also like the fact that it is a two stoke. When the warranty runs out at the end of 2004, I will consider modifying it. Until then, I will enjoy riding a true Italian race bike and all the attention it gets!! Show less

I have 5 yrs riding experience, the bike is 196lbs so it tosses around very easy, I have raced other experienced riders and have smoked them on any size bike 600-1000, great for beginners or others, big bore kit a must! Show less

Sure, its no fireblade but as scooters go its superb, with rugged agressive styling it stands out from the crowd, nippy and responsive with powerful brakes and hardwearing off road tyres this is a scooter to be reckoned with. A joy to ride and own, with very low maintenence. Show less

If you live in the US and are a 2-stroke fan, the RS-50 is a great compromise over the hard to find RZ's and RD's, of the mid 1980's. Although not as fast as the last of the 2-stroke imports, a fully modified RS, will keep most riders very entertained. The bike itself is engineered very well, and its brakes and suspension are capable of handling much higher speeds that even a modified bike are capable of. The catch....? On top of the sticker price, expect to drop at least $1000 in performance parts into your RS, to make it road worthy. Sure you could ride it around in stock form, but acceleration is so slow, that you will grow tired of people in cars (with disgusted looks on their faces) tailgating you away from traffic lights. Dont expect miracles from all the upgrades however, as you will still not be able to keep up with your buddy on his 600. The mods do make the RS, much safer and easier to ride with the only exception being a very narrow powerband. A beginner will have a very hard time with a Modified RS, because of this. It takes some very smooth clutch and throttle control to drive in traffic. Show less

Just gost mine. It's my second scoot. The first one was a Piaggio Typhoon. There is no comparison! On a scale from one to ten, Ditech is 10 and Piaggio is 2! Try it and risk getting adicted imediatelely. (Mine is direstricted by means of a gameboy..) Show less

Bought new 7/2002. Now have 2,700 miles. Also own BMW K12RS. Great high tech engine. 85 miles per gallon, agree with everything posted on previous two reviews. Would add, lighting at night is weak. Scooter is fun to ride, corners well, has 13 inch wheels and acts similar to a motorcycle. Rarely wait for turn lights with long traffic lines because it's so short I can go up the adjacent lane and merge into the turn lane with the "huge" gaps that slow moving SUVs and trucks leave. What fun! Great for small errands or to go get a quick bite to eat. Show less

Just made it through the winter on my Ditech SR50, commuting everyday through Washington, DC city traffic. What a fantastic little bike, especially with the low fuel and maintenance costs, free parking at any given lamp post, etc. I didn't expect the all of the nods and comments from 'real' bikers, but on most of the roads around here (where you can't accelerate like lightning), we're pretty much even. Definitely de-restrict it, and have them change the injector settings with the gameboy. My next step is to replace the stock roller weights to bring the peak torque down into traffic-speed ranges - right now acceleration is best between 40 and 55 mph, and hills are a bit of a slow affair without a running start. Changing the weights should bring the peak torque down into the 25-35 mph range, which should help a bit. Handling and braking are absolutely superb, and the thing's so light and nimble that it's easy to oversteer and end up cornering in a succession of straight lines. Low speed handling is excellent, and you can even track stand it at most traffic lights and stop signs. I rarely put my feet down. Wet weather handling is safe as houses, and even the occasional spot of ice is manageable. Got a bit sideways on a bridge in town in January, and steered my way out of difficulty without even getting my heart rate up much. NOT a highway bike, but fantastic in town, even in busy traffic. Show less

If the 2003 model is anything like the 2001 model, you're getting a great performing little bike, but it's no Spree! This bike has sweet handling at parking lot speeds and high speeds (50+ derestricted). Solidly built, nice finish and sporty style. Direct injection has great economy and performance. Mileage is still near 90 mpg after derestricting and, there are aftermarket parts for more boost (variator, kevlar belt, exhaust, etc.). Show less

I bought a SR 50, the H2O model, in October 02 and now(Feb 01, 03) have 700 miles on it. I am 58, must be in my second childhood for I love the bike. I look for errands around town to so I can use it. It does not give the 100 miles per gallon I thought it should, must have a heavy hand on the throttle for I get about 85. She begins to wheeze a bit on going uphill but is quick enought on the flats. You would have to be crazy to take it on the highway but accept the bike for what it is, a fun, relative cheap way to get around town. I live in a small town and it works great. I'm not sure I would want to try it in a large city with heavy traffic but then I am a country boy. I really don't want to try much of anything in a large city with heavy traffic. I will add this, I might move up to something bigger, something I can ride on the highway. Yet, the automatic transmission is so nice for the stop and go in town traffic where I do 90 percent of my driving. Fun transportation. Show less

I have tested many Race Rep 50's in the past 1 and a half yrs and i have come to the conclusion that they are the best quality race rep 50 out their. the Derbi GPR was ok but lacked power, the Cagiva Evo 50 was laim and the others lacked in every department. The RS 50 with Silkoline Pro 2 oil is best for performance and maintanence, but at a price of $50 per bottle(4 Litres) can be costly. Also you can put on the Arrows race sytem for aroud $160 or the cheaper option of the Minarelli for around $110. Both offer performance and quality, but the arrows is more glamourous. Double HH brake pads are to be avoided as they don't warm up and you could find yourself in the back of a car. don't mess with the airbox as the bike runs lean and then pop, you have no bike. All adaptions mentioned are performance parts,but will not affect reliability. Show less