I purchased a new Vespa Aprila SR150 two months back from Panaji, Goa. I have been using the Honda Activa 125 for the last 3 years. This is a first motoscooter from Vespa. Main highlights of the scooter are 14" thick tires and heavy wheels, and 150cc engine and front wheel disk brake.
The following is my assessment.
Cons:
- Suspension and shock absorbers very Poor. Whenever the road conditions are average, the scooter will bounce around. This is a design fault and I attribute it to the incompatibility between the heavy wheels and stiff shock absorbers which are not tuned to a riders weight of around 70kg. With a pillion rider it is a bit better, but still not as smooth and comfortable like the Activa 125.
Unlike the Activa 125 whose telescopic shock absorbers tend to move down and up over rough terrain, the front wheel shock absorbers in case of the Aprilia tend to bounce and oscillate front and backwards, giving a very bouncy ride on average road conditions. Riding comfort very poor.
The mileage is very poor. I have done 2 servicing, and get a mileage of 35km/liter.
The seat size is small and only a pillion rider of height greater than 5’8" will be able to sit.
Pro:
Stylish model. The big tires gives it a sporty and current look. Heads turn when in traffic.
Especially at high speeds(70-80 km/hr) on smooth roads and it is very stable and comfortable.
Good acceleration, powerful engine which gives a riding thrill
Other points, is that a muffler has been added to amplify the sound to a hollow echo giving a feeling of the engine having more power. This can become irritating.
Another thing is that the front seat tilts forwards, making long rides uncomfortable.
The front space for legs could have been slightly more(3" or more), to carry a gas cylinder or groceries.
The under-seat space is some what cramped, (but can accommodate a half face helmet).
Overall my recommendation, is do not buy the scooter right now, as there appears to be still major improvements to be carried out. However, for the records, I still prefer riding the Aprilia over the Activa 125, for the sheer thrill and style of riding on smooth roads.
2020 Jan 13th Update
After riding the aprilia150 for almost 3 and a half years, here is my update. I find that the riding is much more comfortable than when the scooter was new, and it doesn’t not seem to jump about all that much when I ride slow and on uneven roads. My feeling that this could be due to the suspension, could be right. What had happened was that I had given my Activa125 to the local Honda service centre, Priority Auto for one the shock absorbers not functioning properly. The technician there, refilled the hydraulic oil, but in the process messed up with the delicate setting of the shock absorbers. I began to notice that the Activa125 started jumping over minor bumps making the ride, uncomfortable and dangerous on uneven roads, exactly as the Aprilia125 used to behave at the outset. The Honda technician, said that after a couple of months this would settle down. I now think the suspension issue that I had with the Aprilia in the beginning, was probably too much oil, or some setting in the shock absorbers, that make it too stiff and made it jump around. Well on a happy note, the Aprilia now rides more comfortable on slight uneven roads, then it used to at the outset.