The Aprilia SR GT Replica 200 is a scooter with a gentle yet powerful engine that is fun to ride in corners.

Aprilia SR GT Replica 200…616,000 yen

Scooters in the 150 to 200cc class are gaining attention for their easy-to-handle size and high power. They are as easy to ride as a 250cc scooter, yet powerful enough to be used on highways. Aprilia’s SR GT Replica 200 stands out in this enduringly popular class. Its MotoGP-inspired coloring and Italian design give it a charm not found in its rivals.

Aprilia’s first crossover scooter

The Aprilia SR GT 200 was Aprilia’s first adventure scooter, released in 2022. As it was positioned as a crossover model that could also be driven off-road, it had a long front and rear suspension stroke and was fitted with semi-block tires.

The SR GT Replica 200 introduced this time is a special edition inspired by MotoGP. It is painted in a color scheme inspired by the RS-GP24 ridden by Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales, and is fitted with on-road tires.

The vehicle height is high due to the long suspension, but the body itself is compact.

Gentle yet powerful engine

This was my first time riding an Aprilia scooter. The SR GT Replica 200 has an atmosphere reminiscent of a MotoGP machine, so I expected the ride to be aggressive, but the engine is actually very gentle and quiet. Its smooth and refined feel doesn’t give the impression of being particularly powerful, but in fact, it’s torquey across the entire range, even if you don’t really feel it. It has instantaneous power even when accelerating from a standing start, and even when overtaking from a cruising position, it accelerates without stress, making uphill climbs a breeze. Its power performance allows it to accelerate freely, making it extremely easy to handle around town or on short trips. I took it for a test drive on the highway, and since the engine isn’t that large, it seems like it would struggle to maintain a constant cruising speed of 120 km/h. Still, it has more than enough performance for short trips on the highway.

Cornering performance is excellent…

It’s a highly refined engine, but on the other hand, the ride isn’t particularly comfortable. The seat is hard and angular like a sports bike, and the rear shock is stiff (it has a strong initial force, but the spring rate itself seems high). This may be because it’s designed for tandem riding. In contrast, the front fork’s movement is supple and the damping works very well. There was a difference in the front and rear suspension settings, which gave the impression of imbalance, so I wondered how it would corner, but it’s surprisingly not bad…or rather, it’s very interesting. The steering movement when you bank the bike doesn’t have the quickness that’s typical of small-diameter tires, and it’s very natural, and there’s a sense of stability when banking.

On mountain roads, the front forks work extremely well when I pick up the pace and enter corners. The front forks’ flexibility and damping make it incredibly easy to ride by braking to let the front end lean, then releasing the brakes to lean it back. The bike has a sporty feel that allows you to maximize its maneuverability, and the lean angle is deep. I got carried away and tried increasing my pace, but there were no signs of the front or rear suspension becoming unruly or failing. To be honest, tester Goto isn’t a big fan of small-wheeled scooters. Still, the SR GT Replica 200’s handling was quite enjoyable, and I found myself wanting to attack corners.

The brakes are easy to use, but only the front is equipped with ABS. I tried braking hard enough to activate the ABS, including on slippery surfaces, and there were several times when the tires tended to lock up. While the control isn’t particularly precise, having it makes a big difference. It’s still reliable enough when you need to brake suddenly in an emergency.

I had a lot of fun riding it, from city streets to winding roads, but what I noticed after riding it for a long time was the stiffness of the rear shock. If I could remove the initial shock, that alone might improve the situation, but since it’s intended to be ridden by one person, I would like to lower the spring rate a little more. This would not only improve the ride, but it would also make the handling even smoother. It’s

precisely because of the great qualities of this machine that I want to customize it in this way. Once the suspension set-up is decided, it seems like it will deliver a fantastic ride that is one level above the rest, and it’s a scooter that makes you want to try it.

Position & foot reach (height 178cm, weight 75kg)

The riding position is standard, but the body is not that large, and it offers both comfort and sporty riding, so it doesn’t feel as relaxed as a 250 full-size scooter.

The suspension is long, so the foot reach is not particularly good for a scooter of this class, but even so, both feet are firmly on the ground and the knees are bent.