Aprilia rs125, what to look for before buying it?

[Devos]

I'm picking it up tommorow if it looks ok, its the 2008 model and it's only done 1500 miles.

I have currently got almighty CG125,What to look for before buying rs125?
I have got the engine number and chassis number (hpi check), where are the numbers located on the aprilia?

What else do I need to keep an eye out?

Thanks

[bikersupermot...]

sitting on the rs, turn your bars hard left and get off the bike once the stand is down / bike supported.

on the right hand side of the frame down the near the front of the tank you should see something like this :-




https://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k453/bikersupermoto/2753d510368e85198d44f3280104c012_zpscfa606b1.jpg



as a matter of interest, how many owners?

what condition is the down pipe from the cylinder head in?

is the seat vinyl in perfect condition especially on the edges?

lift the tank and seat - how clean is the bike under there?

which power version is it and has it been modified?

how clean is the bike overall?

chain and sprocket tension and condition?

condition of the tyres?

check all the electrics - especially the electric start and choke operation and turn the bars lock to lock while starting it.

check the multi-function display and computer functions - esp the battery voltage reading with engine off and running.

make sure it starts and runs smoothly from cold and from warm.

once its warm does it accelerate smoothly through the rev range or is there flat spots?

when was the transmission oil, spark plug and air filter last looked / checked / changed?

is the owners manual and spare key present - they should be.


finally what are your intentions with the bike? commuting? weekend pleasure? future investment?

good luck and if theres anything slightly out about the bike - walk away, theres still a few other nice straight ones out there!
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tinybikes

[Devos]

[Boxing]

If you're doing high mileage... I'll avoid a 2 stroke as they need new topends regularly at about £100-£200 a pop.

Inconvenient for commuting IMHO. More money on fuel, oil. And maintenance is more than any CG 125 will ever be.

How old are you? If you're 19, I'd use the £1,800 on getting the test done and buying a nice big bike. Be a lot better and reliable compared to a RS 125 as well. (If you go for a decent big bike that is.)

[P.addy]

I'm not going to say they are unreliable... but I wouldn't rely on one for commuting.

1500 miles, how long has it been standing. Mine was stood for a few months then the bearings let go, probably due to condensation and lack of use.

[bikersupermot...]

hi

1500 miles and its had 2 or 3 owners??? - id be suspicious of that being correct miles. if it was 1 owner like me who barely rides it and its one of 6 bikes then yes its believable but 3 owners would have had to all have hardly used it in their times with it - and in that case - why they hardly used it? - has it been in getting repaired?

that miles with 3 owners sets alarm bells ringing to me though - id be looking elsewhere for a mint immaculate bike with miles more in line with a bike of that age AND 3 owners.

but yeah IF the bike is mint and the miles genuine then 1800 is an excellent price!

like the others have said, i wouldnt use one for commuting, but for a fun 2nd bike, yeah defo.

they are Fragile bikes - mine is unlikely to do more than maybe 600 miles a year at max - iv really got it for the odd ( getting odder by the day lol ) dry weekend for a local ride around and nothing more.

theres a few of us talking about doing a 125 europe trip - but there is no way on earth id take the aprilia!!!. i just wouldnt trust it even though mine too is a one previous owner, low miles, immaculate bike - aprilia rs125 are about as reliable as a 20 year old fiat car!!!!.

i hope you have a garage to keep it in, italian ( rs125 anyways ) electrics and a cold wet british climate are not a good mix and will likely eventually lead to electrical problems.

i see totally where your coming from wanting to change from the cg to the rs - totally different machine. but dont expect reliability - there Will be issues!!!. part of the " character " of these bikes.

id liken it to your cg is like a toyota corolla - unexciting but will go forever with minimal hassle. or you could have an exciting alfa romeo (rs125) - lots of character, lovely to drive but forever in the garage getting fixed.



you do know there are officially from aprilia - 2 power levels for these bikes when they were sold new?

the higher powered version has 2 black boxes under the seats - lift the seat to have a look and you ll see something like this under the higher powered version, notice one box with lots coloured wires coming out of it, the other has a grey plug coming out of it - these 2 boxes tell you its the higher power version :-


https://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k453/bikersupermoto/rs125/4b4e03d318b4fc8fbdc3aca53af78036_zpsbf8d46ac.jpg




the higher powered version is not legal for certain license categories but the lower powered version is. - you might want to check this out before buying otherwise you could be riding a machine that is technically over the power limit for your license and the therefore in the event of an accident - your not covered by any form of your insurance - check this before buying it!

let us know how you get on.
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tinybikes

[Snorty]

Two-strokes...

Fun when you can't ride anything bigger, but you're always riding them hard, trying to wring the performance out. You pay for that in reduced reliability.

I loved my TZR 125, probably my favourite of all the bikes I've owned/ridden. I'm not saying I'd go back to it, but proportionally it has brought me the most joy.

With a £1800 budget I'd definitely just pass test and get something twice as quick for half the money.
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Current: Yamaha FZ1 '07 | GSXR 750 SRAD

Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4

[Nitro_159]

If there was something with the bars which caused a failure check for signs they've been replaced or modified, or otherwise check for bent ones! Play in the steering or movement from left to right (and back again) isn't smooth, walk away it's not worth it with the other maintenance required that the above posters have mentioned

And to check if the bars are bent, just straighten the bike up, get a mate to hold it dead level and measure each bar to the ground (whilst the wheel is dead ahead!) and if the measurements off (providing the ground isn't bent too) then it may have been dropped or "forcibly leaned against a wall"

[skatefreak]

Have you thought about an NSR125?
I used one as my main transport for around 4 years and never had many problems tbh.
It was de-restricted and I bought decent fully synthetic 2 smoke online which was very well priced.
Good solid reliable bike and I would recommend it for anyone interested in a smaller 2 smoke.
Legality, if you crash, if they check it etc...
Horses for courses.

Heck I'm rebuilding/restoring my old NSR now to sell on however I will certainly be putting a good few miles on it before it goes (that's if I don't change my mind when its back together heh...).
Even though I currently commute on a CBR600 there is something nice about having to work the gears and having an engine that loves to rev...

Just my 2c.

[Shinigami]

failed mot for something relating to bars? find out what, could have been down the road and bent bars etc.

the mileage seems massively low for 2-3 owners.... if people are selling it on that quickly then there's likely something wrong with it i'd reckon
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[bikersupermot...]

[stevo as b4]

I don't care if I'm being an ageist, but I wouldn't buy an Aprilia RS125 from a 17year old, even if it was the last example in the world.

You want to be buying this kind of bike from a mature owner, who can afford to spunk away cash on it's expensive running and maintenance costs.

Obviously there is all the normal checks you would do, but I would only pay any significant cash for a bike that's been owned by a real enthusiast, and has a full dealer service history.

I'd want to see invoices for engine work as and when required from pro engine builders, not Bob and his mate in the shed! id expect to be shown expensive fully synth 2stroke oil, and get the vibe from the owner that it's vital to use such oil to keep the bike running reliably.

I'm sure you get the picture. No silly stickers, or aftermarket tat, and if it has an aftermarket pipe or other mods, id want to see dyno print outs and receipts from a reputable tuner/dyno shop for setting up etc.

[bikersupermot...]

[Devos]

I ended up not buying it. It had a massive crack on plastics, the guy over the phone told me it has been fully repaired and hardly noticable...Also battery was flat so I couldn't do anything

I just turned 18 so I'm not able to get a bigger bike otherwise I would pass my test and do it straight away.

I dont have a garage, the bike would be kept in my backyard.

I dont know if I should bother with RS125 after hearing all of these reliability problems. I would do atleast 150miles a week on it..

Are there any more 125cc bikes to consider but it needs to be a lot more fun to ride than cg125 and reliable
btw. I know it's a bike forum but I thought about getting mgb gt(1977) because I heard that insurance is cheap for classics(turned out 5k in my case) I think it's cheap when you are >25
I would rather ride my cg125 than a corsa or kia

[MinhDinh]

Look at the condition for mileage.

Often the speedo broke on mine, so the mileage was fake... because it didn't move.

Check rust for the exhaust. Under neath is important.

Check brakes and discs.

Check suspension, they go soft.

Check if it starts right. Not sure if it's still on the choke but check that.

Check the clocks, my time missed digits after 4 or 5 years.

Check fairing damage, it's not cheap.

Check the keys work on the seat and tank.

Look at tyres, often bald.

Insist on starting the bike on a cold start.
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Hit the G spot.

[_mjs_]

Get yourself a DT with road tyres, two stroke fun and reliable as they come
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Previous Bikes: 2006 Honda XR125L > 2003 Yamaha DT125R > 1996 Honda CB500
Current bikes: 1997 Kawasaki ZZR 600 E5 > 2006 Honda Varadero XL125V

[skatefreak]

Honda NSR 125 2000.
A touch down on the RS125 but reliable as the come and more than enough poke...
https://www.motorsbros.com/images/Honda-NSR-125-R-01.jpg

Look good even with milk bottles on'em

https://cdn.bikechatforums.com/files/img00057-20101123-1346.jpg

-jvr

[anthony_r6]

I loved my NSR, but didn't really appreciate it until it was gone. That thing went on and on even with a lack of maintanence and the amount of times I crashed it. I would love to get another one in the future.
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Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."