Time to Scoot

In an effort to bring together the best of both worlds, Aprilia has combined the riding pleasure of a motorcycle and the practicality of a scooter. But does the SR 150 really live up to all the hype?

- Arup Das

Like an anxious child waiting for his Christmas present, my excitement levels were elevated beyond measure when I was asked to take a test ride of the most anticipated scooter of the year, the Aprilia SR 150. The iconic Italian two-wheeler company unveiled it at the Auto Expo in February this year, which caught the attention of both the media and potential customers. After a five-month long wait, we were finally able to get our hands on it.

The first look raises a doubt – is the SR 150 a scooter or a bike? While I would call it a scooter, a conversation with the Managing Director and CEO of Piaggio India, Stefano Pelle, reveals that, “it’s a sport-scooter bike, a hybrid or a crossover that has the qualities of both a motorcycle and a scooter.” Well, why should we get hung up on slotting it into a category anyway – especially when the design of the SR 150 sweeps you away. Its exuberance clearly defines the sporty nature of this Italian manufacturer.