2009 Aprilla rs 125

Submitted by rookiedude on Thu, 01/21/2010 - 21:26
in

I just got a quick question, is aprilla rs 125 a beginner bike?

‹ Crash analysis back here again ›

Not really

eternal05's picture
Submitted by eternal05 on Thu, 01/21/2010 - 21:29.

I looked into this myself when I was first starting, but the big deal is that the RS 125 has a two-stroke engine. That means you can just fill up at your local gas station. You need to have the appropriate amount of 2-stroke oil to mix in with your fuel. It's also going to be loud and sound like a chainsaw. Also, it's got a really short range thanks to its small tank and fuel consumption.

In addition to being a 2-stroke, it's considered by insurance companies to be a race replica bike, so you're going to be paying through the ass to insure it.

Other than that, I hear this bike is really fun to ride...just not too convenient for around town.

2 stroke bikes

Gary856's picture
Submitted by Gary856 on Thu, 01/21/2010 - 22:33.

ummm, new bikes w/ 2 strokes haven't been street legal for a while (except mopeds) due to emission issues, right?

Correct. Two stokes have

IBA270's picture
Submitted by IBA270 on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 02:23.

Correct. Two stokes have been illegal in this country for a long time...

Allen Dye
MSF Rider Coach
Track Day Instructor
Ironbutt Rally Finisher '03-'05

It's not street-legal

eternal05's picture
Submitted by eternal05 on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 06:07.

It's a track bike, purpose-built. So you're right, but the RS125 is available in the US...just not for street use.

They're badass too! I'm

IBA270's picture
Submitted by IBA270 on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 13:01.

They're badass too! I'm kinda heavy, so they start slow for me, and are hard to ride (IMO) just because I'm not a great track rider, but man, are they a ton-o-fun to turn!

Allen Dye
MSF Rider Coach
Track Day Instructor
Ironbutt Rally Finisher '03-'05

Just Out of curiosity

JackTrade's picture
Submitted by JackTrade on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 14:51.

How much more power do 2-strokes put out vs. a regular 4-stroke of the same displacement? What's the power delivery like? I'm guessing by the fact they're mostly track-only bikes that they require more finesse and skill to handle than an average 4-stroke, but that's just a guess.

Two strokes, (very) generally

IBA270's picture
Submitted by IBA270 on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 15:29.

Two strokes, (very) generally speaking have power output similar to four stroke machines of twice their displacement. Additionally, they are comparatively lighter. While a 4 stroke motor has only one power stroke in every four strokes, a two stroke has one power stroke in every two.

For example, and certainly depending on track and rider, 250cc bikes can give 600cc bikes fits as they carry much great cornering speeds. On longer tracks, the 600 will have their way, but the 250's are really a neat package.

125's work the same way, but are of course smaller...A 125 puts out something like 35hp, and a 250 might be close to 80hp. Both guesses might be a bit high, but remember that the Aprilia only weighs like 280lbs.

Allen Dye
MSF Rider Coach
Track Day Instructor
Ironbutt Rally Finisher '03-'05

Right

eternal05's picture
Submitted by eternal05 on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 23:28.

Basically, with a 2-stroke, you're doubling the number of power strokes (actual gas combustions) per number of engine revolutions, so you get twice the oomph for the same number of revs.

When MotoGP first allowed 990cc 4-strokes to compete with the traditional 500cc 2-strokes in 2002, they were expected to perform about evenly. Unfortunately for the 500cc riders, the 4-strokes ended up with more horsepower and, thanks to their more even power deliver (2-strokes can be...unpredictable), more power to the wheels out of turns. The 4-strokes ended up dominating with horsepower figures approaching 250hp, despite being MUCH heavier than the 2-strokes (though still lighter than my DR-Z...mindblowing innit?). The 250cc GP class has been replaced in the coming 2010 season by the 600cc 4-stroke "Moto2" class. So the 2x 2-stroke to 4-stroke cc conversion is only a rough "guesstimate."

Incidentally, since 2002 when they switched to 4-strokes, engine displacements have been reduced to 800cc (2007-present), and are going to be increased again to 1000cc in 2012.