Aprilia GPR250R sports bike launched in China - sadly
The small-capacity sports bike onslaught continues this week, as the Aprilia GPR250R is launched in China
JUST a day after we reported on a stunning RS 250 Race Replica, Aprilia has unwrapped a full production 250cc sports bike, the single-cylinder GPR250R.
Built specifically for the Asian market (booooo!), the GPR250R is designed as a beginner-friendly bike with sporty styling and dynamic performance. It seems to be extremely closely related to the current RS 125 single-cylinder sports bike, with frame, swing arm, brakes and suspension that all look identical to the smaller machine.
One glaring difference between the two models is that the GPR240R wears bodywork reminiscent of the previous generations of Aprilia sports bikes. The front fairing features noticeably different headlights, while the under-fairing winglets also look more aggressive than the current generation of small capacity sports bikes.
With the chassis looking much the same as the smaller RS 125, we guess the engine is an enlarged version of the 125cc unit. It’s reported to produce a healthy but not world-beating 26bhp, putting it right just about in the mix when compared to the fully-faired Asiain-market 250 – 400cc competition.
Away from the oily bits, the bike features a full-colour TFT dash, all-LED lighting, 41mm USD forks and a rear shock with pre-load adjustability. ABS is a simple two-channel system, with a radially mounted caliper and 300mm disc at the front and a 218mm single-piston caliper at the rear.
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While the thought of a new 250cc sports bike landing on UK shores is exciting, sadly it’s unlikely to happen. With A2 licence laws permitting up to 46 and a bit BHP, the little ‘Prilia would be out-gunned against bikes like the KTM RC390, Yamaha R3 and Honda CBR500R.
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
