Aprilia SR 175

The Aprilia SR 150 was launched in 2016 in India, marking the entry of a true-blue sport scooter. It was fast, sporty, and exciting - everything that a sport scooter should be. Over the years, it went through several changes to add more value to the package. Now, for 2025, the scooter has received a bigger engine, better performance, and a more advanced instrument cluster. In that case, has Aprilia succeeded in keeping the scooter exciting even today, or has the SR started to show its age? We try to answer that by riding and living with the SR 175 for a few days.

Aprilia hasn’t changed the scooter visually and we are not complaining either. It still looks modern and handsome. The overall combination of those large 14-inch wheels and edgy body panels goes well with its sporty persona. Although it doesn’t attract a lot of attention on the road because the design has become familiar over the years, it still looks different and more imposing than most scooters on Indian roads. Our test unit, in particular, looks stylish with its gradient-like colour scheme, which resembles one of the paint schemes of the RS457.

Complementing the admirable design are the quality levels, which leave no room for complaint. All the body panels are well put together and there are no uneven gaps to be found. Even the quality of plastic is good throughout, while the buttons on the switchgear feel tactile.

As unique as the scooter looks, comfort and practicality are not its strongest suits. The seating position, for instance, is upright, but taller and heftier riders will be left desiring more space on the seat and floorboard. The forward-sloping, stepped design of the seat doesn’t allow you to move much on the saddle. You tend to sit forward with the handlebar quite close to you. There’s a dearth of space on the floorboard too, especially for my size-10 boots, although that will only be a problem when you try to carry your belongings between your feet while riding. So, if you plan to buy the SR 175, these are traits you’ll have to get used to.

It’s a similar story with the suspension and ride quality. Over the years, Aprilia has worked on making the suspension of the SR more absorbent. And those who have ever ridden the SR 150 will instantly find the new SR 175 more forgiving. However, it is still a firm setup. Go over a sharp rumbler or a deep pothole, and you feel a violent shock, especially from the front forks, which are firmer than the rear monoshock. Riding over a rough patch turns out to be a jerky affair for your arms. A hack to counter this is going faster over undulations when the suspension starts feeling more forgiving. In short, the ride quality isn’t outright jarring, but you will constantly feel almost every undulation on the road.

The most significant update on the scooter has come in the form of a bigger 175cc, air-cooled, three-valve engine, which gets a bigger bore than its predecessor. As a result, this motor produces roughly 2bhp and 1Nm more than before, at 13bhp and 14.1Nm. The CVT transmission system remains the same. I am glad to report that this continues to be a fairly characterful and involving engine. It delivers punchy acceleration, especially at city speeds, sounds very throaty, and is fairly refined.

The SR 175 is quick to shoot off the line and the roll-on acceleration is equally brisk. Whether you’re at 30kmph or 70kmph, just roll on the throttle generously and the SR 175 feels urgent to charge ahead. That makes overtaking in the city easy and fun. Barring the mild buzz on the floorboard at lower speeds, it is almost devoid of vibrations on the handlebar and seat, even at speeds of 90-95kmph.

The hardware of the scooter remains the same as its predecessor, with 14-inch alloy wheels riding on 120-section tyres and a frame that’s suspended by telescopic forks and a monoshock. Just like its predecessors, the SR 175 continues to feel almost like a motorcycle in terms of handling, with a good balance of agility and composure. It doesn’t feel as flickable as most scooters, due to the relatively larger wheels and wider tyres. However, changing directions or carrying good lean angles is confidence-inspiring, with the scooter feeling taut and stable. Complementing the well-engineered chassis are the Vee Rubber tyres, which deliver impressive grip and feedback in the dry, while performing similarly well in wet riding conditions.

Backing that up is the brilliant front brake, which delivers strong bite and good lever feel, with the ABS not feeling overly intrusive. Even the rear drum brake offers an adequate amount of bite and progression.

Besides the engine, another big change is the introduction of the new full-colour TFT screen. It looks like the same hardware as on the RS457 and Tuono 457, but the theme and layout of information on display are different. To navigate through different options and menus on the screen, there’s a new switchgear as well. All the information is very neatly laid out and the screen is good in terms of legibility. Moreover, the user interface is easy to understand and get used to.

Besides showing the basic information, the TFT shows a host of useful data like real-time fuel efficiency, distance-to-empty, and average speed. Once connected to your smartphone, you can access turn-by-turn navigation, control music, and get SMS and call notifications. You can even choose between day and night themes, and digital and analogue display options.

Being a sport scooter, the SR 175 isn’t the most practical in terms of storage space and convenience. It offers a small under-seat storage provision. All you can squeeze in there is a small backpack or perhaps a small half-face helmet. The scooter also misses out on other convenience-oriented features like an external fuel-filler cap, auto start-stop, front cubby hole, or a parking brake, most of which have become a norm these days.

The SR 175 returned a mileage of 34.54kmpl in our test which, considering its fuel tank capacity of seven litres, translates to a riding range of around 242km. That’s not impressive by scooter standards, but considering its potent engine performance and sporty persona, the mileage figure is acceptable.

Despite being the successor of a scooter that came almost nine years back, the Aprilia SR 175 continues to feel modern and exciting. The star of the show is the engine, which delivers raw and punchy performance with the throaty soundtrack only elevating its involving nature. The handling dynamics feel motorcycle-like, and strong brakes encourage you to push harder every time you ride it. The new data-intensive TFT screen also adds to the feel-good factor.

Having said that, if you decide to buy it for the thrill it offers, do take the accompanying lack of comfort and convenience into consideration. Most people will find the ride quality uncomfortable, and the seating space for tall/hefty riders will be inadequate. The absence of features like an external fuel filler, cubby hole, and a parking brake might also hamper the ownership experience to some extent.

However, if you’re someone who wants a sporty and fun-to-ride scooter and is ready to compromise practicality to some extent, the Aprilia SR 175 is still a lovely proposition. And with a price tag of Rs. 1.28 lakh, ex-showroom, it’s approximately Rs. 22,000 more affordable than its closest rivals, including the Yamaha Aerox 155 and the Hero Xoom 160. So that’s one more reason to go for the Aprilia. Do note that these prices are subject to change from 22 September, 2025, when the new GST rates come into effect.

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi