APRILIA SXR 160
The Aprilia SXR 160 was revealed at the Auto Expo 2020. Eleven months down the line, we finally get astride the maxi-scooter
New maxi-scooter in town
THERE’S NO DEARTH OF RUN-OFthe-mill scooters in India. If you decide to buy one right now, you have so many options that you will have to shortlist at least a dozen. However, Aprilia always stood out by offering unique, enthusiastfriendly scooters and yet again, another out-of-the-box offering is around the corner — the SXR 160 maxi-scooter. What makes it special is its focus on performance, blended with a head-turning design and ergonomic tweaks that make it friendlier.
The SXR 160 gets a lot of mass compared to regular scooters thanks to bulky panels, but it’s tastefully executed. Up front, there’s an LED headlamp with an output of 1000 lumens. We didn’t ride at night, so an update on the headlamps shall follow in the weeks to come. There’s also a dark windscreen and a massive digital cluster that’s easy-to-read. It is larger than anything that we have seen on scooters so far and includes a tachometer, real-time fuel efficiency, ambient temperature and top speed, trip meters and more. A Bluetooth-enabled screen is also available as an accessory. In the flesh, the SXR 160 looks attractive and it’s hard to not give it a second glance.
It’s also very practical. There’s a storage box up front for essentials like your phone and wallet and there’s also a USB port. The underseat stowage is inadequate for a full-size helmet, although flexible items like a college bag can certainly be squeezed in.
Hop on, and the ergonomics make you feel at home. You’re seated upright and the handlebar reaches out to you. Aprilia has worked on the SR 160’s chassis to achieve this; the steering geometry is lazier and the handlebar is new. The rear-end too had been modified to accommodate the large grabrail and seat. The seat itself packs ample cushioning and seats two comfortably. With our near six-foot-tall principal correspondent Abhishek riding pillion, both of us had ample space. There are no stretched-out footrests, though, like on the Suzuki Burgman Street.
The SXR 160 gets the same 160.3cc BS6-compliant engine as the SR 160, that pumps 10.8bhp and 11.6Nm of torque. The ECU has been retuned for improved bottom and mid which clearly helps. The performance is nippy and the SXR 160 is eager to go fast the moment you whack the throttle open. Compared to its sibling, the throttle response feels mildly subdued, but that in turn bodes well with its relatively relaxed intentions. It will cruise effortlessly between 70-80kmph and even at our shoot location that comprised plenty of steep inclines, this engine packed ample punch.
The ride quality of the SXR 160 is much better than that of the SR 160 thanks to a relatively softer suspension setup that makes it more comfortable around the city. The ride is still firm, but never does it unsettle you. When you see a broken patch of road, you can simply keep going and let the suspension absorb the surface undulations.
While the ride quality is great, there’s a chink in the SXR 160’s handling that is its vague front end. It feels overtly light and robs you of the confidence that other Piaggio scooters instil in abundance.
At `1.26 lakh, ex-showroom, the SXR 160 doesn’t come cheap, demanding a premium of `23,000 over the SR 160. Is it worth considering then? Well, it’s not perfect. We hoped for Bluetooth to be standard and the quality of switchgear to be better. But on a positive note, it’s arguably the best-looking scooter and when it comes to comfort and practicality, it’s a far better proposition compared to its hardcore sibling. Also if you want to stand out from the crowd, nothing comes close to the SXR 160 in the market.L
PERFORMANCE IS NIPPY AND IT IS EAGER TO GO FAST THE MOMENT YOU WHACK THE THROTTLE OPEN