Aprilia RS 125 and Tuono 125 get refreshed design, power boost for 2021

The new-for-2021 Aprilia RS 125 and Tuono 125 have been revealed, borrowing styling cues from their larger siblings and gaining more powerful engines in an effort to shake up the profitable lower displacement sportsbike market.

It’s been a busy few months for Aprilia since it pulled back the covers on the all-new Tuono 660 and revealed the refreshed RSV4 1100 and Tuono 1100 flagships, but it hasn’t been ignoring its models at the lower end of the power scale either with the 125 duo getting a refresh for 2021.

From the outset the changes are evident with the RS 125 and Tuono 125 each getting a facelift that reflects those given to the 1100 range earlier in the year, which in turn was inspired by the new design language introduced with the launch of the 660 line.

As such, we have a more angular, sharpened front-end and headlight arrangement, while the tapered finish on the fairing on the RS and creased bodywork on the Tuono ensures it remains very much in-keeping with its more illustrious siblings in a ‘squint and it would be hard to tell the difference’ way

More than that though, the RS and Tuono have also borrowed design cues from the new SXR160 scooter from the LED headlight cluster and the new digital instrument gauge, giving them a linear family resemblance from top to bottom. 

Under the skin there have also been significant changes with a new Euro5 compliant single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with four-valve timing producing 14.75bhp at 10,000rpm, while a new exhaust system helps ensure a more ‘robust’ torque curve and max power developed at lower revs. A new Marelli ECU is also promised to provide greater on-road refinement.

A new ABS system is boasted as being the ‘best in class’, while designers have tweaked the design to allow for greater practicality and storage space.

Aprilia has also included its MIA multimedia platform, which lets yournnect your smartphone to the vehicle via Bluetooth, which transfers onto your on-board computer.

The Aprilia RS 125 is available in two liveries; Aprilia Black and GP Replica, which apes the RS GP it currently competes with in the MotoGP World Championship. Prices start at £4,600, rising to £4,700 for the 125 ABS Replica.

The Aprilia Tuono 125 comes in Aprilia Black, Lightening White and Arrow Grey, and will be priced from £4,500.