2002 Aprilia RS50 review from United Kingdom
"A fantastic looker which handles and stops well, but could do with a bit more performance"
What things have gone wrong with the motorcycle?
When purchased (used) the dealer fitted a new battery - perhaps this should have rung some warning bells - on 2 occasions now the battery has "lost" its charge. It still has enough to turn the motor on the starter, but there doesn't seem to be enough left to fire the ignition.
The actual battery voltage when measured in this condition is 11.30V - a fully charged battery should be 12.60V (or more). The charging system seems to work okay, going up to 14.5V. The solution is to charge the battery every couple of months.
Other than this, it has been remarkably trouble free for an Italian machine.
General comments?
A stunning looking little machine that always attracts looks wherever it goes. Other than the previous comments, it has been very reliable.
The handling is excellent for a machine of this size and the brakes are setup to match the handling - they are actually sharper than the ones on my 600 Bandit.
For commuting though, forget it - the race derived riding position is just not suitable for round town.
Recommended reviews
 | Absolutely Superb! |
 | Stay well clear |
| Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model Year | 2002 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Acceleration marks | 5/10 |
| Roll-on Performance marks | 2/10 |
| Handling marks | 8/10 |
| Braking marks | 9/10 |
| Reliability marks | 5/10 |
| Comfort marks | 4/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 11000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 13000 kilometres |
| Previous motorcycle | Suzuki GSF600 Bandit |
| Date of Entry | 7th January, 2005 |