Sports City Cube 125cc (2008 - present) review

Aprilia says:

With its original design, the Aprilia Sportcity revolutionised our concept of high wheel scooters from the day it was first presented. Thanks to 15 inch wheels, generous tyres, sporty engines and a superbly rigid frame, the Sportcity stood out immediately for its ability to combine the comfort of a large wheel scooter with the power and handling of a sports scooter to offer a dynamic and exciting solution to the problems of urban mobility. The Sportcity proved an instant winner and went on to become one of Aprilia’s best selling scooters. Its success has been maintained over the years by the regular introduction of new versions and configurations to create a truly complete range. The 2008 model maintains the technical solutions that made the Sportcity a best seller, but is more versatile and elegant than ever. Larger dimensions, a superior finish, and a new 300 cc engine give the 2008 Sportcity an unrivalled price to content ratio. The new Sportcity is not merely restyled but completely renewed, so much so that its third generation is assuming a new name to emphasise the extent of the innovation.
The Aprilia Sportcity Cube is made to satisfy all possible needs in modern urban mobility. Better finished and more elegant than ever, the new Sportcity features a design inspired by dynamism and advanced technology. Its impressive characteristics make it the perfect choice for riders seeking a comfortable, safe and fast scooter that can nip easily through traffic and requires only minimum running costs.
With the introduction of the 300 cc engine, the Sportcity Cube also performs well as a medium range commuter, providing a more global mobility solution. The Sportcity simply cannot be defined as a mere “means of transport”. Instead, it represents for the urban commuter a scooter with an unmistakable sporting image and with the performance and handling of a true Aprilia.
Style has always been one of the Sportcity’s strong points. Now the Sportcity Cube‘spersonality is even more distinctive thanks to restyling of practically every part of the scooter. The new steering head incorporates a brand new instrument cluster, and the front section (mudguard and grille) has been thoroughly redesigned too. The rear section has also undergone major changes. The seat is wider and more comfortable, and the tail is longer, with a larger luggage rack with built-in top box fittings. The new Sportcity looks more elegant than ever, whichever way you look at it.
The new, broad and luxurious seat is great for riding in company and is ergonomically shaped for improved rider and passenger comfort. The special seat textile offers a better grip, reducing the tendency to slide forwards under breaking and improving comfort and safety even further. 
A flat platform is a must for scooters or this type. The Sportcity CUBE not only caters for riders’ needs in this area, but stands out for the particularly generous amount of space provided for the feet. The platform of the Sportcity Cube offers unrivalled comfort and maximum load carrying capacity. Its clever shape, narrower where the feet touch the ground, lets riders of all statures get their feet down firmly.
The generous front shield affords excellent protection against the elements. Two vents in the sides perform a dual function, extracting warm air from the radiator and keeping the rider’s legs warm in winter when a leg cover is used. The new luggage rack incorporates a passenger grab handle and fittings for an Aprilia top box for even greater carrying capacity.
Generous load carrying capacity is also essential on scooters of this type. Meticulous care throughout the design stage combined with intelligent use of space mean that the Sportcity is compact on the outside but big inside. Thanks to their strategic dimensions, not even the large wheels have limited the space available to the user. The under-seat storage compartment is big enough to hold a jet helmet with visor and other personal effects besides. This spaciousness has been achieved without sacrificing ergonomics or ease of control. Seat height is still only 815 mm.
Intelligent exploitation of space has enabled Aprilia to build a lockable glove compartment into the rear of the leg shield. Inside is a convenient power socket for charging your mobile phone.
The instruments have been completely redesigned and are decidedly more elegant and provide a wider range of information. The analog-digital dashboard incorporates a rev counter and a multifunctional display like those of the latest superbikes. The various functions of the display can be accessed directly from the handlebars for maximum safety.

CHASSIS: EFFECTIVE AND SAFE
The Sportcity chassis has always been acclaimed for its precision, comfort and control. The Sportcity Cube maintains the same basic chassis that has proved so effective in the past and has established the model as the urban commuter that the others have to beat when it comes to safety and ridability.
Every care has been taken in the design of the new Sportcity to ensure that the frame remains sufficiently rigid despite elimination of the awkward central tunnel.
The frame is made from high strength steel tube, and is designed to give excellent torsional rigidity and strength despite the flat platform.  This rigid and efficient frame gives the Sportcity a feeling of superior control and sporting character typical of true Aprilias.
The hydraulic telescopic fork features 35 mm stanchions and offers a wheel travel of 100 mm for precision control and excellent damping. The Sportcity fork provides the perfect remedy for cobblestones, broken road surfaces and manhole covers.
The engine and transmission assembly acts as swingarm and is damped by two shock absorbers with adjustable spring preload. Because the suspension can be adjusted to suit load and road conditions, maximum safety is ensured in every riding situation. An impressive wheel travel of 80 mm means an excellent level of comfort.
The Sportcity Cube is equipped with 15 inch wheels and generous, high profile tubeless tyres (120/70 at the front and 130/80 at the rear). As a result, total rolling diameter is equivalent to that of a typical 16 inch tyre while the wheel’s shock absorbing ability is actually far greater, giving significant benefits in terms of comfort.
Combined with the excellent frame, the suspension and wheel system gives the Sportcity excellent stability and a truly intuitive ride that anybody can enjoy.
Another one of the Sportcity Cube’s many strong points is its braking system. This is especially true of the top of the range 300 i.e., which adopts a triple disc system (instead of the double disc systems fitted to the 125 and 200) for amazingly short stopping distances and safer than ever riding. Even inexperienced riders can stop quickly while maintaining full control. The two front discs are 260 mm in diameter and are braked by floating calipers with twin parallel pistons. The rear wheel is braked by a 220 mm disc with a single piston caliper.

ENGINES: STATE OF THE ART
Another major feature of the Sportcity Cube 300 i.e. is its advanced engine. This new four-valve engine with electronic fuel injection represents the state of the art for scooter engines. Powerful, flexible, clean running and with miserly fuel consumption, the new single cylinder power plant is the perfect match for the Sportcity. Higher displacement enables the engine to develop even more power, especially in terms of torque – the most important parameter for an urban scooter that needs to accelerate quickly from a standstill. Developing 22.5 HP at 8,000 rpm and 22 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm, this single cylinder power plant offers pace-setting performance. The engine makes full use of the Sportcity’s dynamic handling, and makes it a perfect choice not only around town but on fast out-of-town roads too.
The 200 cc engine puts out 21 HP, placing this Sportcity model at the top of its class. With brilliant acceleration and a high top speed, the Sportcity 200 is ideal for rapid mobility even on fast ring roads.
A maximum power of 15 HP allows the 4-valve Sportcity 125 to carry holders of a B class licence (Italian legislation) effortlessly through city traffic and cruise at speeds more than adequate for commuting needs.
Miserly fuel consumption and a generous 9 litre tank give the Sportcity great autonomy.

Aprilia says:

With its original design, the Aprilia Sportcity revolutionised our concept of high wheel scooters from the day it was first presented. Thanks to 15 inch wheels, generous tyres, sporty engines and a superbly rigid frame, the Sportcity stood out immediately for its ability to combine the comfort of a large wheel scooter with the power and handling of a sports scooter to offer a dynamic and exciting solution to the problems of urban mobility. The Sportcity proved an instant winner and went on to become one of Aprilia’s best selling scooters. Its success has been maintained over the years by the regular introduction of new versions and configurations to create a truly complete range. The 2008 model maintains the technical solutions that made the Sportcity a best seller, but is more versatile and elegant than ever. Larger dimensions, a superior finish, and a new 300 cc engine give the 2008 Sportcity an unrivalled price to content ratio. The new Sportcity is not merely restyled but completely renewed, so much so that its third generation is assuming a new name to emphasise the extent of the innovation.
The Aprilia Sportcity Cube is made to satisfy all possible needs in modern urban mobility. Better finished and more elegant than ever, the new Sportcity features a design inspired by dynamism and advanced technology. Its impressive characteristics make it the perfect choice for riders seeking a comfortable, safe and fast scooter that can nip easily through traffic and requires only minimum running costs.
With the introduction of the 300 cc engine, the Sportcity Cube also performs well as a medium range commuter, providing a more global mobility solution. The Sportcity simply cannot be defined as a mere “means of transport”. Instead, it represents for the urban commuter a scooter with an unmistakable sporting image and with the performance and handling of a true Aprilia.
Style has always been one of the Sportcity’s strong points. Now the Sportcity Cube‘spersonality is even more distinctive thanks to restyling of practically every part of the scooter. The new steering head incorporates a brand new instrument cluster, and the front section (mudguard and grille) has been thoroughly redesigned too. The rear section has also undergone major changes. The seat is wider and more comfortable, and the tail is longer, with a larger luggage rack with built-in top box fittings. The new Sportcity looks more elegant than ever, whichever way you look at it.
The new, broad and luxurious seat is great for riding in company and is ergonomically shaped for improved rider and passenger comfort. The special seat textile offers a better grip, reducing the tendency to slide forwards under breaking and improving comfort and safety even further. 
A flat platform is a must for scooters or this type. The Sportcity CUBE not only caters for riders’ needs in this area, but stands out for the particularly generous amount of space provided for the feet. The platform of the Sportcity Cube offers unrivalled comfort and maximum load carrying capacity. Its clever shape, narrower where the feet touch the ground, lets riders of all statures get their feet down firmly.
The generous front shield affords excellent protection against the elements. Two vents in the sides perform a dual function, extracting warm air from the radiator and keeping the rider’s legs warm in winter when a leg cover is used. The new luggage rack incorporates a passenger grab handle and fittings for an Aprilia top box for even greater carrying capacity.
Generous load carrying capacity is also essential on scooters of this type. Meticulous care throughout the design stage combined with intelligent use of space mean that the Sportcity is compact on the outside but big inside. Thanks to their strategic dimensions, not even the large wheels have limited the space available to the user. The under-seat storage compartment is big enough to hold a jet helmet with visor and other personal effects besides. This spaciousness has been achieved without sacrificing ergonomics or ease of control. Seat height is still only 815 mm.
Intelligent exploitation of space has enabled Aprilia to build a lockable glove compartment into the rear of the leg shield. Inside is a convenient power socket for charging your mobile phone.
The instruments have been completely redesigned and are decidedly more elegant and provide a wider range of information. The analog-digital dashboard incorporates a rev counter and a multifunctional display like those of the latest superbikes. The various functions of the display can be accessed directly from the handlebars for maximum safety.

CHASSIS: EFFECTIVE AND SAFE
The Sportcity chassis has always been acclaimed for its precision, comfort and control. The Sportcity Cube maintains the same basic chassis that has proved so effective in the past and has established the model as the urban commuter that the others have to beat when it comes to safety and ridability.
Every care has been taken in the design of the new Sportcity to ensure that the frame remains sufficiently rigid despite elimination of the awkward central tunnel.
The frame is made from high strength steel tube, and is designed to give excellent torsional rigidity and strength despite the flat platform.  This rigid and efficient frame gives the Sportcity a feeling of superior control and sporting character typical of true Aprilias.
The hydraulic telescopic fork features 35 mm stanchions and offers a wheel travel of 100 mm for precision control and excellent damping. The Sportcity fork provides the perfect remedy for cobblestones, broken road surfaces and manhole covers.
The engine and transmission assembly acts as swingarm and is damped by two shock absorbers with adjustable spring preload. Because the suspension can be adjusted to suit load and road conditions, maximum safety is ensured in every riding situation. An impressive wheel travel of 80 mm means an excellent level of comfort.
The Sportcity Cube is equipped with 15 inch wheels and generous, high profile tubeless tyres (120/70 at the front and 130/80 at the rear). As a result, total rolling diameter is equivalent to that of a typical 16 inch tyre while the wheel’s shock absorbing ability is actually far greater, giving significant benefits in terms of comfort.
Combined with the excellent frame, the suspension and wheel system gives the Sportcity excellent stability and a truly intuitive ride that anybody can enjoy.
Another one of the Sportcity Cube’s many strong points is its braking system. This is especially true of the top of the range 300 i.e., which adopts a triple disc system (instead of the double disc systems fitted to the 125 and 200) for amazingly short stopping distances and safer than ever riding. Even inexperienced riders can stop quickly while maintaining full control. The two front discs are 260 mm in diameter and are braked by floating calipers with twin parallel pistons. The rear wheel is braked by a 220 mm disc with a single piston caliper.

ENGINES: STATE OF THE ART
Another major feature of the Sportcity Cube 300 i.e. is its advanced engine. This new four-valve engine with electronic fuel injection represents the state of the art for scooter engines. Powerful, flexible, clean running and with miserly fuel consumption, the new single cylinder power plant is the perfect match for the Sportcity. Higher displacement enables the engine to develop even more power, especially in terms of torque – the most important parameter for an urban scooter that needs to accelerate quickly from a standstill. Developing 22.5 HP at 8,000 rpm and 22 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm, this single cylinder power plant offers pace-setting performance. The engine makes full use of the Sportcity’s dynamic handling, and makes it a perfect choice not only around town but on fast out-of-town roads too.
The 200 cc engine puts out 21 HP, placing this Sportcity model at the top of its class. With brilliant acceleration and a high top speed, the Sportcity 200 is ideal for rapid mobility even on fast ring roads.
A maximum power of 15 HP allows the 4-valve Sportcity 125 to carry holders of a B class licence (Italian legislation) effortlessly through city traffic and cruise at speeds more than adequate for commuting needs.
Miserly fuel consumption and a generous 9 litre tank give the Sportcity great autonomy.

• Engine: Horizontal, single cylinder, 4 stroke. Forced liquid cooling with centrifugal pump. 4 valve head with overhead camshaft.

• Fuel: Unleaded petrol

• Bore x Stroke: 75 mm x 63 mm (300 cc), 57 mm x 48,6 mm (125 cc)

• Total displacement: 278 cm3 (300 cc), 124 cm3 (125 cc)

• Compression ratio: 11:1 (300 cc) 12:1 (125 cc)

• Maximum power at the crank: 16,5 kw (22,5 hp) at 8.000 rpm(300 cc), 11 kw (14,9 hp) at 10.000 rpm(125 cc)

• Maximum torque at the crank: 22 Nm at 6.500 rpm (300 cc), 11,7 Nm at 8.000 rpm (125 cc)

• Fuel system: Electronic injection (300 cc), carburettor Keihin (125 cc)

• Ignition: Electronic inductive discharge ignition with variable advance

• Starting: Electric

• Generator: 300 W

• Lubrification: Wet sump. Forced circulation with mechanical pump

• Gear box: Automatic torque converter

• Clutch: Automatic centrifugal dry clutch

• Primary drive: V belt

• Final drive: Gearbox

• Frame: Single cradle frame in high tensile strength steel

• Front suspension: Hydraulic telescopic fork with 35 mm stanchions. Wheel travel 100 mm

• Rear suspension: Engine unit acting as swingarm. Double hydraulic shock absorber with adjustable spring preload. Wheel travel 80 mm

• Brakes: Brakes: front Ø 260 mm with hydraulic transmission (double disc 300cc/ single disc 125cc); rear Ø 220 mm with hydraulic transmission.

• Wheels: Light alloy. Front: 2.5 x 15". Rear: 3 x 15".

• Tyres: Tubeless. Front: 120 / 70 x 15”. Rear: 130 / 80 x 15”.

• Dimensions: Overall length: 1985 mm Overall width: 890 mm (at mirrors) Wheelbase 1360 mm Seat height: 815 mm

• Fuel tank capacity: Capacity 9 litres (including reserve of 1.5 litres)