aprilia RX50

The Aprilia RX50 has the looks of a proper enduro bike, but none of the performance. Restricted, it’ll struggle to break 30mph, and de-restricted (illegal for 16 year-olds) it’ll top 50 eventually. The chassis will cope with gentle off-roading, but ride it harder and the RX50 will be out of its depth.

Engine

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Owners' rating

The Aprilia RX50 49cc two-stroke single engine is typical of the class – gutless. It needs revving hard and the clutch slipping to pull away, and you need to continue thrashing it. But as a first motorcycle, it’ll feel lightning quick – it’s all relative.  

Ride and Handling

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Owners' rating

The RX50’s chassis is realistically best around town – try ride it off road and you’ll get sick of the suspension clanging in to its bump stops. The wide bars, lightweight and compliant suspension is perfect for urban riding, but the standard knobbly tyres will complain if you push too hard – buy the Aprilia SX50 with its supermoto-style road tyres if you don’t ride off road.

Equipment

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Owners' rating

The Aprilia RX50 is basic motorcycling – no storage, a riding position that makes no concession to comfort and a simple electronic dash displaying only basic information. There is a pillion seat – but only for the very stupid. The chassis looks nice, but is nothing special underneath the fancy façade.

Quality and Reliability

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Owners' rating

Build quality is basic but OK – the main problem comes from abusive teenage owners. Cleaning, basic maintenance and using top-quality two-stroke oil should keep it happy for most of the time, but being both Italian and two-stroke expect the odd foible.

Value

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Owners' rating

£2399 is a lot of money for a first bike that you’re unlikely to keep more than a year. Insurance isn’t cheap for a young rider – motorcycles like the Aprilia RX50 are towards the upper end of the risk scale compared with twist-and-go scooters.

Insurance

Insurance group: 2

Model History

Year: 1997-2005. Uses an earlier version of the same engine, but in a steel chassis. The looks mimic Aprilia’s 1990’s 125cc enduro bikes. Very rare now – patchy build quality, abusive owners and bike thiefs looking for field bikes are responsible for the demise of most.

Other Versions

Aprilia SX50 2006-current. Much the same as the RX50 but with 17” road wheels and tyres and a larger front brake disc. Unless you really must ride off-road there’s no reason to buy the RX50 – the SX50 offers a much better ride on the road.

Specifications

Top speed	50mph
1/4-mile acceleration	secs
Power	6bhp
Torque	9ftlb
Weight	92kg
Seat height	880mm
Fuel capacity	7 litres
Average fuel consumption	mpg
Tank range	miles
Insurance group	2

Engine size	50cc
Engine specification	Liquid-cooled, two-stroke single. Six gears.
Frame	Alloy beam
Front suspension adjustment	none
Rear suspension adjustment	none
Front brakes	260mm disc with two-piston sliding caliper
Rear brake	180mm disc with single-piston caliper
Front tyre size	1.85 x 21”
Rear tyre size	2.15 x 18”