Aprilia SXR 160: Pros, Cons, Should You Buy One?

Planning to buy Aprilia’s latest maxi-style scooter? Well, this should make your decision easier...

Months after unveiling its first maxi-styled scooter designed for India, the SXR160, at Auto Expo 2020, Aprilia has launched it in the country. If you’re looking to get this one, you might want to take a look at its detailed list of pros and cons.

The Pros

The 160cc engine is punchy even with the 11kg bulk over the SR160

Aprilia SXR160 shares its engine with its performance-oriented scooter sibling, the SR160. However, the Italian brand claims it has revised its ratios to ensure better bottom-end grunt. This has ensured a snappy performance, despite the 11kg extra weight. It surges ahead with enthusiasm until 60kmph, after which, the power delivery tapers. That being said, the engine’s refinement is unfettered even while pushing beyond 90kmph.

The long seat is roomy enough with a pillion onboard

Maxi-scooters are known for the space they offer and the Aprilia SXR160’s seat scores well on that front. It is long with ample room for both the rider and the pillion. However, its cushioning could’ve been better, especially for long rides, if you ever intend to take your scooter on one.

The butch-looking front-end is a headturner

Maxi-scooters are all about being big and mean, and the Aprilia SXR160 ticks the right kind of boxes as far as eye-ball grabbing looks are concerned. Its large apron-mounted headlamp is all-LED and the tinted windshield makes it look even sportier.

The Cons

Suspension is set up on the sportier side, which isn’t ideal for Indian roads

Being a maxi-style scooter, the front telescopic forks and the single rear shock absorber are tuned to be on the firmer side. While it may be great on smooth roads for carving corners, your back could take a beating over bad roads. The firm seat cushioning doesn’t help matters.

Lacks sufficient underseat storage

One might assume the maxi-scooter styling will ensure great underseat storage. Sadly, it isn’t big enough to gobble a full-face helmet. That said, it doesn’t have problems accommodating a half-face helmet. It doesn’t get a multifunction key slot to open the seat though.

Floorboard space is still quite small

While it may not have the split floorboard design of other hardcore maxi-scooters, it is a little small to be practical for our markets. There’s just about enough space to keep your feet. Aprilia could’ve given extra legroom for riders with big feet.

A bit too expensive

At Rs 1,25,997 lakh (ex-showroom Pune), the Aprilia SXR160 is almost Rs 23,000 more expensive than the SR160. For the added premium, it doesn’t really bring anything big on the table, apart from swanky looks and a tad more utility. 

Should you buy it? No

The Aprilia SXR160 might be a lot more practical than its sporty sibling, the SR160, and even look better but customers could be put off by its hefty 1.26 lakh-rupee price tag. Moreover, its firm suspension, considering our bad roads, is unlikely to find favour. And if you really want a maxi-styled scooter, the Suzuki Burgman makes a strong case for itself thanks to its much lower price tag and a more useful smartphone-connected instrument cluster with turn-by-turn navigation assist.