Photography: Shrenith Bhandary
Imagine you just battled your way through traffic on your scooter to reach the office and as you walk, with a long face, towards your corner in the corporate world you suddenly get hit with reality that for the next eight hours or so you will be tied up in your office chair going through the same grind as yesterday and the day before and the d…, you get the idea. However, if you get yourself an Aprilia SR 175 hp.e, things might not be so dull. Why? Here’s what we found out after spending weeks with it.
You see, Italians are a fun bunch and having witnessed the craziness of riders in Italy riding on Italian machines, I can attest that the engineers behind those motorcycles and scooters are no exception, like the ones working at Aprilia, who created the SR 175 hp.e, a scooter that looks sleek, sporty and fast in general. The design of this scooter is complemented with the proper footwear as it comes with 14-inch alloys that resemble a scaled-down version of the wheels found on the Tuono or the RSV4, and chunky 120-section tyres. The sleek bodywork and the graphics lend it a sporty and youthful appeal without being outlandish. In fact, every time you lay your eyes on it, it looks fast even at a standstill.
However, there are things I wish Aprilia could have done better. For example, the switchgear quality can be improved, and the floorboard could use more space so that one can easily move their feet around, as the space is limited now. The seat, although ultra comfortable for me, should have been without that cutout in the middle, as it interferes with my tailbone and urges me to move a bit forward to avoid discomfort. The 5.5-inch TFT instrument console is bright and legible during the day, especially if you set the dials to classic mode; however, it comes across as something slightly dated and busy otherwise. As for accessing the trip meter and other info, you need to use the mode switches on the right-hand switchgear, which is quite convenient and quick. One gripe I have with this instrument console is the app connectivity, which has a mind of its own and will only connect to your phone if it’s in the mood.
Now for the juicy bits. The first word that popped into my mind was “fun”! A word usually not attached to scooters in India, but hey, this one is Italian at heart, which makes it extremely enjoyable. High praise aside, the SR 175 hp.e has a lot going for it. The 174.7cc air-cooled engine with 13.2PS and 14.1Nm gives this scooter a real fun character. The engine’s acoustics are pleasant at idle, and as the revs build up, the low muffled roar is quite enjoyable. Talking of revs, it is quick to pick up pace thanks to the torque that arrives quite early in the rev range and peaks at 6,000rpm. This lends the SR 175 brisk acceleration and makes overtaking in the city a breeze. The throttle response is quick, and the SR builds up pace rapidly as soon as your right hand wrings the throttle. However, the vibrations, especially at low revs and low speeds, are somewhat bothersome. The handlebars and floorboard are the first to convey the vibrations; however, to get rid of them, I had to keep the revs slightly higher than I would have liked to. This action also eats into the fuel economy, which in my full tank to full tank run, stood at 37kmpl under mixed riding conditions.
However, the vibrations were something I was willing to live with because I was busy enjoying pushing the SR around town, of course, while following traffic laws. Talking of pushing the SR around, I absolutely adore the handling it offers. The punchy engine and the stiff suspension give it just the right amount of ammo to weave through traffic with ease while being extremely agile. However, the firm suspension setup doesn’t go hand in hand with our Indian road conditions, as it hampers ride quality on rough roads. Nevertheless, smoother surfaces are tackled with ease, and the scooter provides decent comfort most of the time. The rear suspension comes with preload adjustment, which most people who end up buying the scooter would ignore, but we suggest that you learn about it and adjust it for your weight.
Fortunately, I weigh slightly more than the average person, which loaded the suspension enough to let me enjoy the handling for most of my time with the SR 175. I was pointing it where I wanted to go, and it followed my orders to the T. Quick direction changes were effortless, and those Vee Rubber 120 section tyres at both ends provided enough grip that on wet surfaces, I wasn’t worried about losing the front or the rear at all. On dry surfaces, the grip was ample and confidence-inspiring to say the least. However, it was the SR 175’s cornering agility that slapped a smile on my face every time I put it through one. It was stable, tyres were grippy, and the SR was eager to attack the next corner, just like I was. Even the brakes are quite good with enough bite to shed speed rapidly. However, I wish the brake feel could have been better, especially on the ABS equipped front disc brake.
Overall, I enjoyed the Aprilia SR 175 hp.e because it has a raw character, which is perfect for enthusiasts looking for a scooter with a fun personality. The SR 175 is a fun little city scooter with ample power and good handling, which will slap a smile on your face regardless of where you are going. As for the price, the SR 175 hp.e costs ₹1.28 lakh ex-showroom, which is a decent price tag for a made-in-India scooter with an Italian heart.
