Aprilia RX 125: Great bike/Bad bike? 

Hi, I don't know if you've watched my other seat mod videos (now with a proper base, foam and cover, which looks way better), but for a reasonable outlay it makes it a much more enjoyable bike to ride. For under 4 grand it does what I want, without having the bulk of one of those 10 grand monsters. Each to their own, I suppose. Go enjoy ya biking, Hank.

Thanks for your thanks. I hoped it would help some potential buyers. Pity Aprilia doesn't give a choice of about 3 seat heights, low, medium and high. I'll have to send them an email.

Hi, Yes, you are right. UM sell the same bike with their logos on it. Aprilia could've done so much better. Pity they don't build their own lightweight frame for it. I guess it's why it has such a low price.

Hi Sergiu, the more time spent on the bike, the better it get's (engine and suspension improves). Should be ideal for what you want.

@@suffolksquitter2268 good to hear it gets better! Any updates on the seat? I'm 6'4.5 and was actually thinking that a cover might help, a handmade foam one covered with some nice waterproof fabric.

@@sir_s Yes the seat I bodged up is a lot more comfortable, but is just a little too high (nearly 100mm). Over winter I'll improve it further by bringing it down 25/30 mm. With it higher it has made my long legs less cramped which is also a lot more comfortable. I bought some vinyl seat covering and stapled it over some decent foam to a wooden base, so it should be waterproof. There are gel seats available on ebay that you can strap over the original seat, but may lack the width on the skinny seat, so I didn't go for one. I'll do an update in the future. So watch this space. 🙂

@@suffolksquitter2268 Thank you, I will!

Hi, After my mods, wider softer seat, handlebar risers and shortened side stand of 15mm (on other videos), I've come to really love this bike too. I say to myself, I DON'T need anything bigger like a 600, 700, 900cc bike. It cruises along quiet country roads at 40 to 50mph really nicely, and will do 60 when needed. I'm also about 5 grand better off in the pocket. Happy biking!

Hi James, The more I ride the bike, the more I like it - apart from that rear shock. What make of rear shock did you get? It may encourage some others to do likewise. I can mention it in a future video when I do an update on the bike on some of my mods. Thanks for your comment.

@@suffolksquitter2268 get in touch with Hagon they will be able to sort you out. Where in Suffolk are you. I'm in Norfolk. The other Mod I have done is the left rear wheel spacer is a washer that sits on the bearing seal face. This means when you tighten the rear wheel it just squashes on the seal face destroying the seal. This seemed wrong to me so I machined a spacer that sits inside the seal. Maybe it was just my bike but I think not.

@@batcaveracing Hagon are a good company, been around years. Can make one offs if necessary. I'm a Stowmarket chappie, got my bike from Mototechniks in town. The washer maybe an oversight by Aprilia. Whatever, they should know better. Well spotted by you! What a lot of people don't realise is, is that these RX's are built in China, not Italy like you'd expect.

@@suffolksquitter2268 I look.forward to see how you get on with it. My rear wheel bearing exploded around 3500mls along along with fork seals. I'm not that surprised as I've done a lot.off road with it.

​@@batcaveracing hi mate what rear shock did you buy

When I park up my bike at home, I put the side stand on a small block of wood to keep the bike more upright. It loads the suspension a little in the hope that the rear spring will settle quicker.

Hi Ryhis, having fun is what it's all about!

I have to admit that the frame is a joke. It has the wide metal perimeter look that's only for aluminium, but with steel it weighs so much. The bike would be better off with a regular tube frame if they didn't want to go the aluminium route. Aprilia could've done so much better with all that you've said.

I find that if the seat is too low in relationship to the footpegs my legs are folded up too much, I'm like a grasshopper on the bike. That puts ALL my weight onto that hard seat ... soooo uncomfortable! Aprilia needs to revert to normal handlebars for sure. All of you commuters out there ... strap a cushion to your backside!

Hi. I weigh roughly the same and find the Aprilia pretty potent for a 125, so I'm well impressed with the power. I'm sure it'll get up the steepest of hills with 6 gears to play with. The only time the bike really struggles is in top gear up a long incline, say doing 50 - 60 mph or with a strong head wind going uphill, but a drop down to 5th gear is usually ok. If you're doing speeds around 40mph in 4th and 5th uphill it seems happy enough. Without seeing the hills you want to tackle is difficult to assess. If you buy an Aprilia, you do have NEW everything. It is a real nice bike to ride. The brakes are real good too. From what others have said these bikes seem reliable and economical, so it seems a win, win situation. I intend to do a real test (and video) in the dirt in the future, but right now it's really, really wet and horrible right now. The Suzuki's were a good bike with good power, although a bit heavy, and, older four strokes can be a bit iffy. But as you say, Will it stay reliable. If you sit on a Aprilia in the showroom you might just be swayed. The choice is yours. I hope I've helped.

@@suffolksquitter2268 Thanks for the reply! The hills are probably fine, I can manage in the granny gear of my bicycle, after all. I've never ridden a motorbike so I fret a little about capability. I'm imagining buying a bike and it not being able to get up the hill to my home, haha.

@@suffolksquitter2268 Another question, would it be possible to peel the stickers off? They do look good, I think the bike might look even better a little more understated though, what do you think?

@@pitchwife7573 Better to stick sticky back plastic (Fablon) of your colour choice over the top. When you sell the bike you can peel it off and the original graphics underneath will look new. Make matching paper templates first, cut out the Fablon and carefully stick over. A little tricky to do. Funny enough, I've already started to do it on mine.

​@@suffolksquitter2268 I would very much like to see the finished result! and maybe some more thoughts on the bike after you've had it for a while? Thanks a lot :)

Hi Callum. I've only had my RX a short while, but I'm confident it'll be a reliable bike for many years. The build quality seems pretty good in general so it should be similar to say, a Honda CG125 in reliability - they go on forever.

Hey i have the sx version which is the exact same bike but on street tyres and i can say that its very reliabe, ive been commuting 1,5hr every day for around 6 weeks now and i havent encountered any problems yet

@@poteeh7241 thank you this is helpful 👍

@@suffolksquitter2268 cheers mate, very underrated channel. Do you recommend the cg125 over the rx

@@callumluciani6794 I went for the RX because I'm so tall (6ft 4). I look a right twit on most bikes and make the Honda look like a toy. If you're tall, like something flashy, don't mind knobbly tyres wearing quicker than road tyres and want 90-100mpg ... go RX. If you look okay on a smaller bike, don't go off road and want your tyres to last longer also and want 120-140 mpg ... go Honda. I hope this helps, Callum.

Hi, no idea. The length of the shock is important, and also the shocks are set to the weight of the bike. The RX is pretty heavy at 293 lbs, a crf150 is way lighter so if you put that shock on it would be way too soft. You need to ask a shock specialist. That's the best advice I can give.

@@suffolksquitter2268 οk thankss

Hi, I actually prefer 2 strokes any day. Had many motocrossers over the years. You're right about not powerful enough for off road enduro racing. Fine for casual trail riding though. Best enduro engine I've had was a Gas Gas 300 2 stroke. Brilliant bike. 👍

Glad you liked it, Raz. These bikes retail at £3850.

@@suffolksquitter2268 please send me the link where can I buy this bike sir this is my 1st time for bike Many thanks

@@razsingh6575 Just google for your nearest Aprilia motorcycle dealer I guess. I got mine local, Mototechniks Motorcycles, Stowmarket, Suffolk.

@@suffolksquitter2268 thanks for your warm response

Hi, 60mph it's buzzing a lot. It's more comfortable at 50mph or below. I do a lot of backroads and a lot happier at 40 to 50mph.

@@suffolksquitter2268 Thank you.

The Beta will be the better bike for racing enduros or whatever, for sure. It's more race bred, like a true enduro bike. That's why it costs more. The Aprilia is more for the casual off roader/commuter. Far too heavy for racing.

@@suffolksquitter2268 not really, the beta is a 4 stroke and much lighter than the aprilia, the 2 stroke versions more for racing and thats why its £7500 and 4t is only £4500, pay for what you get bro

The bike being 25kgs too heavy doesn't help!

It's handlebars, we all say handlebars. It's like trousers. We pull our trousers on, not our trouser. That's our crazy language for you.

@@suffolksquitter2268 I think this guy got his knicker in a twist!

I can't imagine what you're riding??? A 125 MX'er weighs about 200lbs, an enduro about 230lbs, so a cheaper road goer shouldn't be no more than 250lbs. Weight robs power and is a sod to pick up if you drop it!