2010 Aprilia RS 125

It's not too often that I practice my 'race' starts on public roads, but that's the type of spell that a machine like the Aprilia RS125 can have on you.

The little two-stroke is an absolute ball tearer, as I was reminded of this afternoon when I took it for a blast through the Royal National Park in Sydney - my first interaction in years with the machine that has become the standard bearer for all 125cc two-stroke sportsbikes.

Since my last contact, the RS125 has become even more refined - the engine meets Euro 3 emission standards for a start - and now Aprilia has released a limited-edition version with the same livery as Max Biaggi's RSV4 Factory world superbike machine.

Only 50 of the 'Max' bikes will make it Down Under, retailing for $8990, $1000 over the standard RS125.

As well as the bullet-proof Rotax liquid-cooled engine, fed by a Dell'Orto 28mm carburetor, the RS125 has a beautifully finished cast alumium-alloy twin-spar frame, USD forks, radial brakes, and a number of style pieces from the RSV1000 V-twin sportsbikes - fairings, wheels, yokes et al.

That cocktail has fun written all over it, which is why I took every opportunity - normally when I was being held up by other vehicles -- to stop, survey the scene, and then dump the clutch in yet another 'GP' start.

But it's not just fun to launch off the line: it's a bona-fide sportsbike in its own right. And we'll tell you why when the full test appears on the Bikesales Network next week.


SPECS RS125

• Engine: Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder two-stroke. Aluminium cylinder with Nikasil-coated liner. Read valve intake. Separate lubrication. Homologated to Euro 3 standards
• Bore x stroke: 54mm x 54.5mm
• Displacement: 124.8cc
• Compression ratio: 12.5 ± 0.5:1
• Carburetor: Dell'Orto VHST 28
• Ignition: Electronic CDI ignition
• Starting: Electric
• Lubrication: Separate mixing with variable displacement, volumetric pump
• Final drive: Chain: 17/40 (2.35)
• Clutch: Multi-plate in oil bath
• Frame: Sloping twin-spar frame in thin wall box section cast aluminium, with reinforcement cross-ribbing
• Front suspension: USD 40mm forks. Wheel travel 120mm
• Rear suspension: Swingarm with asymmetric members in thin wall box section cast aluminium. Hydraulic monoshock with adjustable spring preload. Wheel travel 120mm
• Brakes: Front -- Floating 320 mm disc. Radial caliper with four differential diameter pistons, 32mm - 27mm. Rear -- Single 220 mm disc. Caliper with dual 30mm pistons
• Wheels: Aluminium alloy
• Tyres: Tubeless radial. Front 110/70-17; rear 150/60-17
• Overall length: 1955 mm
• Overall width (at handlebars): 720mm
• Overall height (at windshield): 1100 mm
• Seat height: 805mm
• Wheelbase: 1345 mm
• Fuel capacity: 14lt (3.5lt reserve)