Review: Aprilia SR 160 Race Edition review, test ride

In the transition to BS6, the larger capacity Aprilia SR witnessed some notable changes and went from being the SR 150 to being the SR 160. We already reviewed that scooter a couple of months ago, but we’ll take a look at how that came about to be with the scooter you’re reading about here, the sportiest SR of them all, the SR 160 Race Edition.

Aprilia SR 150 vs Aprilia SR 160 Race Edition:

With the switch to BS6, the engine on the SR gained 2mm of stroke, from 58.6mm to 60.6mm. As a result, its displacement went up from 154.8cc to 160.03cc. And that’s how the SR 150 became the SR 160. This slightly larger engine produces nearly 1hp and 0.7Nm more torque than the older one, and it’s this new unit that also powers the SR 160 Race Edition. The addition of a fuel-injection system has resulted in a more connected feel with the throttle. On the downside, the new motor lacks that sharp initial response when you open the throttle. 

Race Edition gets a tweaked CVT.

As with the previous BS4 model, there’s a key difference that lies beneath the surface. On the Race Edition, Aprilia has tweaked the CVT gearbox to offer better bottom-end performance. The difference isn’t something we could immediately notice on our short stint with this scooter, and only a proper road test will tell us if the Race Edition is quicker off the line. 

Visually, the Race Edition and standard SR 160 differ in the colours they wear. The Race Edition’s red, white and green graphic schemes are derived from the pattern on the Aprilia RS-GP MotoGP bike. There’s even a little decal on the tail section that reads “54 World Titles.” 

Aprilia SR 160 Race Edition design

In terms of ride quality, the SR range was once infamous for offering a very stiff setup. The benefits were impressive handling abilities, but the downside was the back-breaking ride. Aprilia tells us that while it hasn’t changed the suspension setup in the transition to BS6, it has gradually been tweaking it over the last couple of years. That said, this is still a firmly set-up scooter. 

Digi-analogue display looks outdated.

A huge factor in its strong handling abilities is the fact that it employs 14-inch wheels (most of its competition uses a 12-inch front and 10-inch rear setup). These, along with other cycle parts like the brakes, telescopic fork and pre-load adjustable monoshock are exactly the same as the ones on the previous model. The scooter also continues to use a halogen headlight and basic digi-analogue instrument cluster. The latter is definitely something we’d have liked to see a more modern, feature-packed version of. 

Should you buy the Aprilia SR 160 Race Edition?

The SR 160 Race Edition costs Rs 1.14 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and after taxes, you’ll be shelling out a total of Rs 1.40 lakh. Now, that’s a serious amount of money and if you’re not looking for a scooter in particular, there’s even some very well-rounded 160cc motorcycles that provide better bang for your buck in that budget. Having said that, there isn’t a scooter like the SR 160 Race Edition in our market – it’s sporty and easy to ride, quick, and continues to look smashing while doing so.