2005 Aprilia SR50 R Factory Ditech Scooter reviews

My 2005 model DiTech is now four months old and has 1800km on the clock (about 1100 miles). This bike is my only means of transport and gets used every day for getting to work, shopping, going from work to client's homes, visiting relatives, etc. I can thoroughly recommend it to anyone looking for an urban scooter. In inner city traffic, I have averaged 40 km to the litre of premium unleaded and on the local motorways slightly better. It has always started on the first press of the starter and the digital display is clear day and night. The under seat storage space takes my full face helmet quite well and with that and the luggage hook I manage my weekly shopping for two without any major problems. On the one occasion I have needed a car for shopping (to take home potting mix) I just hailed a taxi - which is a lot cheaper than running a car all year. The rear lights are very clear and bright at night and the headlights are very good for a 50cc (although not as good, of course, as a 150 or 200). But then, this bike is really in its element in the city, where there is plenty of incidental night light anyway. Speed: When it first came, it was restricted to 50 km/h. After the first 100km I had it derestricted (new engine mapping and a new $40 part in the variator - all quite easy), and it now runs to 80 km/h on the flat and 90 on a downhill slope. I am a big man at 105kg and with my more petite partner riding (she is more like 60kg) it will maintain 90 km/h on the flat. It does drop off a little on long hills, but then there are not many of those in a major city. I have taken it for two runs out into the surrounding countryside and there I felt a little underpowered, but not too much. Stay off the high-speed motorways, though. She is not designed for 110 km/h traffic. She is a tall bike, and appealed to me for that reason. Shorter people will find it too tall, taller people will wonder why all scooters aren't made this height. The suspension is very firm, to help with the handling. The SR certainly handles well, but be warned - bumps, potholes and corrugations are all transmitted to your back with considerable force if you sit solidly on the seat. I have started raising myself up a little before hitting a large bump and this helps a lot. My partner's Aprilia Mojito has much softer suspension and rides out the same potholes much more smoothly - but then it doesn't handle as snappily either. Brakes are excellent and pull the bike up sharp - in fact, you'll be checking you mirror a lot to make sure the car behind has managed to stop as quickly, if you know what's good for you. The SR50 DiTech is a great bike if you want to run around the city, scoot to work, go to the nearest beach, do the shopping, etc. It is cheap to run, pulls well and is finished to a high standard. (A very high standard. Think BMW or Aprilia big bikes for a quality comparison.) don't plan to take on the high-speed motorway but if you live in town and want a day-to-day workhorse that is also fun, then this is a great scooter. Show less

My aprillia sr 50 is the best invesment I ever made. I wanted a scooter but I didn't want to get an old looking scooter. The sr is very sport bike looking. I take it for short errends usually, but I also trailer it and take it for long rides in lancaster. The sr does about 30 mph but mine does about 45mph and 50 going down hills after getting the engine retuned by the dealer. Show less