Aprilia SXR 160

The Aprilia SXR 160 does stand out in the Indian two-wheeler market with its maxi-scooter design and striking visuals. But, how is it like to ride and experience as a daily commuter? Let’s take a look:

Design

The SXR 160, being of Italian origin and a creation from Aprilia, looks very appealing. It captures attention with its sporty design and the cool colour schemes on offer. Notably, it comes equipped with split LED headlights and DRLs inspired by the Aprilia RS 660. The integration of turn indicators into the headlights looks very good. The scooter's presence is highlighted by the big apron and the tall smoked windscreen.

While the SXR 160 is not an entirely new scooter, being based on the Aprilia SR160, it has a very striking look from the front. However, the rear-end appears disproportionate compared to the rest of the design.

Beyond the looks, the scooter stands out for its exceptional fit and finish quality levels. The Y-shaped alloy wheels look really stylish. Tight panel gaps add to the overall neatness of the design.

Engine, Performance and Mileage

The maxi-scooter is powered by the SR160 derived air-cooled, single-cylinder engine, generating 11PS at 7,200rpm and 12.13Nm at 5,500rpm. The revised gearing to improve the bottom-end performance is felt and the acceleration is very smooth, delivering a lively feel up to 60kmph, after which the performance tends to tone down a bit. Notably, the engine's refinement stands out, with minimal vibrations even at speeds exceeding 90kmph.

It reached a top speed of 98kmph in our tests (in a controlled environment) and the high-speed stability remains impressive up to 90kmph. However, beyond this point, the handlebar starts shaking slightly when dealing with imperfections on the road but that is because of the stiff front suspension.

Ride and Handling

Compared to the SR 160, which gets 14-inch wheels, the SXR 160 gets smaller 12-inch wheels. The steering on the maxi-scooter is not as swift and reactive as that of the SR 160, but it works well with the scooter's character. Despite this, the SXR 160 is enjoyable to navigate through corners and remains quite stable even when cornering at higher speeds. The 11kg increase in weight doesn't significantly hamper its agility, allowing it to move smoothly through traffic.

Regarding the brakes, the SXR 160 is equipped with a disc/drum brake setup. The disc brake offers a good bite, yet there's room for improvement in terms of lever feedback. Noteworthy is the inclusion of ABS, making it one of the few scooters in India with this feature. 

Comfort

The handlebar and instrument console are positioned low and away from the line of sight. The footboard space is also cramped, and doesn’t have much space to comfortably place your legs on it.

The floorboard is aligned upwards to place your feet in a comfortable way but it often requires the rider to intrude into the pillion seat for that. Despite Aprilia's claim of having the longest seat in the segment, the seat's hard cushioning, combined with the stiff suspension, creates a harsh riding experience.

Features

The SXR 160 comes equipped with an LCD digital display with lots of readouts such as average mileage, range, overall mileage, ambient temperature, max speed recorded, two tripmeters, tachometer, engine oil temperature, battery voltage, and more laid out in an organised manner. The addition of a mode button helps in navigating through various information smoothly while on the move.

A key appeal of maxi-scooters lies in the generous space they offer. The SXR 160 has a glovebox below the handlebar with two separate compartments. The left compartment has a USB charger, but the overall space in these compartments is somewhat limited. This extends to the underseat storage, which is not that much and can’t store even a half-face helmet.

One drawback worth mentioning is the absence of an external fuel filler cap and a multi-function key slot for seat access. Opening the seat requires the rider to get down from the scooter and slot the key on the side panel. Additionally, the lack of an engine kill switch is disappointing.

Verdict

The Aprilia SXR 160 is a good choice if you want a sporty and premium maxi-style scooter that looks and feels different from any other scooter in the market. However, the Aprilia SXR 160 falls short in delivering on the fundamental principles of a maxi-scooter, notably in the comfort and space departments. If you're in the market for a practical maxi-style scooter, then the Suzuki Burgman Street might suit you better as it not only provides more space, comfort, and mileage but also comes with a more affordable price tag.