Aprilia Storm 125 Review
Bike Tested: Aprilia Storm 125; Road Test No. 1167; Test Location: Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 83,000/-
Aprilia Storm 125 is a more affordable and rugged version of SR 125
Aprilia is a brand which is known worldwide for its class-leading superbikes. However, in India, the Italian Manufacturer is focused more on scooters. Aprilia does make high capacity scooters, but in India, it offers scooters in the 125cc and the 150cc segment only. A new entry-level scooter has been showcased by Aprilia in the market which is the Storm 125. This scooter is the most affordable Aprilia vehicle in India and we are going to find out more about it.
Motor Quest: Despite popular belief, Aprilia is a scooter manufacturer first and then a sports bike manufacturer and not the other way round. Aprilia initially started out by producing mopeds, scooters and small-capacity motorcycles eventually moving on to manufacturing sportbikes.
Funky graphics on the scooter looks visually striking
Styling – Aprilia Storm 125 has the same outer body as its other SR scooter siblings The overall styling of the Storm 125 is very sporty. It is offered in three bright colour schemes of red, yellow and white. These colour options are matte and specific to the Storm 125, while the handlebar is finished in a satin black paint scheme. Funky and rugged graphics on the scooter look aesthetically pleasing and enhance its street presence. Also, increasing the style quotient is the set of fat, chunky tyres which are the widest in the segment. Another major change is the dual-pod halogen headlight is now made into a single-pod unit.
The scooter gets a very basic instrument cluster which is all analogue
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The instrument cluster has been carried over from the Aprilia SR 125. It even has the text – SR 125 – written within. It is a very basic unit which displays a speedometer, fuel meter, and an odometer, all of which are analogue. The instrument cluster misses out on various other features that the competitors offer. The switchgear on the scooter is also carried from its sibling and it feels quite basic and simple.
The seat on the scooter is small and not very spacious
Ergonomics – The seat height of the scooter is quite high which makes the seating position very upright. It has a long seat and can accommodate two adults. The cushioning on the seats is hard and not much comfortable, however, this gives stability to the rider at high speeds. Underseat storage of the scooter is very less and can only accommodate a half-face helmet. The front panel is scooped-out and offers decent legroom. The position of the pillion footpegs can bother the rider at times.
The scooter offers best performance in the segment
Performance – Aprilia Storm 125 is powered by an air-cooled, SOHC 3 valve 124.7cc engine which produces 9.6 PS at 7250 RPM and 9.9 NM at 6250 RPM. The engine is very throttle friendly. Twist the throttle and the scooter climbs speed in no time. It is the fastest scooter in the 125cc segment. The scooter offers good low-end and top-end performance and the power delivery is linear throughout the range. Our test scooter was topping out at 110 km/hr on meter while it did 88 km/hr on the VBOX test.
The light weight of the scooter helps in quick acceleration
The acceleration of the scooter is sporty and aggressive
The exhaust note has a rattling sound and is quite throaty. It has a fuel tank of 6.5-litres and is capable of delivering fuel efficiency of 35-40 km/litres. Vibrations can be felt on the scooter when the throttle is wide open. The scooter lacks engine refinement but it is not that harsh.
The scooter is very agile at high speeds
Riding Dynamics – The Storm 125 has very stiff ride quality and lacks comfort on bad roads, but it is hands down the most fun-to-ride scooter in its segment. The 120-section front and 130-section rear tyre are one of the largest tyres we’ve ever seen on a scooter. These wide tyres offer excellent grip on the corners and inspire confidence to go hard. It gets drum brakes at both front and rear, however, it offers decent braking performance. The long wheelbase of 1365 mm offers stability to the scooter at high speed and keeps the bike planted on the road even over triple-digit speeds.
Stiff suspension keeps the scooter firm and planted
Verdict – Storm 125 is the most affordable Aprilia scooter in the Indian market. There not many performance scooters available in the Indian market, and Aprilia is certainly making its mark in the segment. This is purely a performance-oriented scooter and is specced to deliver maximum out of its engine. If comfort and engine refinement is not your priority and outright performance is only your buying point, Aprilia Storm 125 is worth your look.
It is a fun to ride peppy scooter
What’s Cool
* Quick throttle response
* Grips well around the corner
* Excellent high-speed stability
What’s Not So Cool
* Built quality of the scooter
* Engine lacks refinement
* No disk brakes on offer
Styling of the scooter is quite unique and appealing
Aprilia Storm 125 Specifications
* Engine: 124.7cc, Air-Cooled, SOHC
* Power: 9.6 PS at 7250 RPM
* Torque: 9.9 Nm at 6250 RPM
* Transmission Type: CVT
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Fuel Consumption: 35 – 40 KM/l
* Frame: Underbone Frame
* Tyres: 120/80/12 (Front), 130/80/12 (Rear)
* Suspension: Telescopic Fork (Front), Monoshock (Rear)
* Brakes: 150 mm Drum (Front), 140 mm Drum (Rear)
Aprilia Storm 125 Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 1985 mm x 703 mm x 1166 mm
* Wheelbase: 1365 mm
* Seat Height: 775 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 6.5-litres
* Kerb weight: 115 Kgs
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