Newbie bikes usually get a nasty rap. They’re seen as stepping stones, placeholders, or machines you outgrow the second you determine tips on how to work a clutch. However the actuality is, some newbie bikes are an absolute blast, and Aprilia’s newly launched RX 125 and SX 125 are prime examples of that. Whereas these fashions have been refreshed for the Japanese market with an up to date instrument cluster and redesigned LED headlights, they continue to be basically the identical at their core: light-weight, nimble, and ridiculously enjoyable.
Let’s begin with the RX 125. This little ripper is constructed for the dust, with a correct dual-sport setup that makes it able to tackle trails, gravel roads, and the rest that isn’t asphalt. It rolls on a 21-inch entrance and 18-inch rear wheel combo wrapped in knobby CST tires, giving it the grip to claw by way of unfastened terrain.
Picture by: Aprilia
Suspension-wise, it’s received a set of beefy 41mm inverted forks up entrance and a preload-adjustable monoshock on the again, providing stable floor clearance and sufficient journey to take in tough trails. The RX’s light-weight metal double-cradle body retains issues easy and sturdy, making it a no-fuss machine for exploring the outside. Whether or not you’re a beginner studying the ropes of off-road driving or an skilled rider in search of a playful, flickable machine to fiddle with, the RX 125 delivers.
On the flip facet, the SX 125 takes that very same platform and transforms it right into a road hooligan’s dream. With 17-inch wheels entrance and rear, fitted with road-biased CST tires, this factor is constructed for metropolis carving and backroad enjoyable. The identical suspension setup carries over from the RX, however with a tighter, extra aggressive really feel fitted to fast turns and sliding round corners.
Picture by: Aprilia
The SX is the form of bike you are taking to a parking zone to follow wheelies or blast by way of tight city streets, dodging visitors with ease. It’s received all of the substances of a correct supermoto—minimal weight, a punchy engine, and an angle that encourages you to push your limits. And positive, it solely makes 15 horsepower, however due to its ultra-lightweight construct, it feels peppy and responsive, making each journey really feel like an invite to simply do hoodrat shit.
Whereas the US market usually disregards small-displacement bikes, areas like Japan, Europe, and Australia have lengthy taken a extra structured strategy to motorcycling. In Japan, strict tiered licensing legal guidelines be certain that new riders don’t hop on a liter bike straight out of the gate. Examine that to the US, the place an 18-year-old with a contemporary bike endorsement can legally throw a leg over a 228-horsepower Kawasaki Ninja H2 and high-side into one other dimension. Whereas the previous strategy might sound restrictive, it cultivates ability development with out robbing riders of enjoyable—and that’s the place bikes just like the RX 125 and SX 125 shine.
It’s a disgrace these Aprilia 125s may by no means make their option to the US, as a result of who wouldn’t love a light-weight dual-sport or supermoto to thrash round? They’re proof {that a} newbie bike doesn’t need to be boring—and typically, much less energy simply means extra excuses to wring the throttle huge open.
