Aprilia has taken the wraps off of the 2021 RS 125 and the Tuono 125. For 2021 the bikes get an update in styling, a Euro5 compliant engine and updated electronics.
The 2021 Aprilia RS 125 and Tuono 125 get updated styling that now bring them in line with Aprilia’s contemporary design language, also found on the new RS 660. It gets a sharp front end with the three split LED lighting and DRL setup. The instrument cluster is also almost identical to the one found on the SXR 160 maxi-scooter. Apart from this, the Tuono 125 gets a shorter fairing and a single seat unit. Whereas the RS 125 gets a proper supersport style fairing and a single seat setup with a rear seat cowl similar to that of its bigger siblings the RS 660 and the RSV4.
The Aprilia RS 125 and Tuono are powered by the same 124.2cc, four-stroke, four valve, liquid-cooled single-cylinder mill that is now Euro5 compliant. It makes a modest 14.7bhp at 10,000rpm and 11.2Nm at 8000rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox.
Both bikes use an aluminum perimeter frame that is suspended on 40mm USD forks on the front and a monoshock at the rear. Braking comes courtesy of a four-piston caliper that is radially mounted on a 300mm disc at the front and a 218mm disc at the rear that uses a single-pot caliper. The seat height on the RS 125 is 820mm while the Tuono sports an 810mm seat height. Both bikes use a 100/80-17 front and 140/70-17 rear wheel setup. The bikes have the capacity to carry 14.5 litres of fuel and tip the scales at 144kg (kerb weight)
In terms of electronics, the bikes get a digital LCD instrument cluster similar to the unit found on the SXR 160, LED lighting on both ends and a USB charging socket (optional). In terms of rider aids, the bikes get dual-channel ABS and the option to be fit with a quickshifter.
Believe it or not, the bikes aren’t the smallest displacement offerings from the Italian manufacturer. The Aprilia RS 125 and the Tuono 125 will be rivalled by likes of the KTM RC 125, 125 Duke, Suzuki GSX-R125 and the Yamaha R125 of which only the KTM twins are available in India. The likelihood of the RS 125 and Tuono 125 coming to India is very little, but we would definitely like to see them on our roads.