Aprilia SR 125 mileage and running cost

SR 125's claimed mileage is 39.5 kmpl, and unusually, owners and our own riding land right on it: expect 37–41 kmpl in everyday use. Few bikes get this close to their brochure figure.

Among the 34 scooters we have reviewed it ranks 29th for mileage, 7 kmpl below the group average of 46 kmpl.

At Delhi's petrol price of ₹94.80 a litre and a real-world 39 kmpl, the SR 125 costs about ₹2.43 per km in fuel. Ride 30 km a day and that is roughly ₹1,896 a month, or ₹22,752 a year, before servicing.

The 6-litre tank gives a realistic range of about 234 km, so a 30 km commute means a fill-up every 1 week.

Spread over five years and 46,800 km, the SR 125 works out to about ₹5.7 per km all-in, of which 42% is fuel and 49% is the purchase price itself. Resale value is not counted; a nameplate this established holds value well.

Three habits move the SR 125's mileage more than anything else: keep the tyres at the recommended pressure, get into the top gear as early as the engine allows, and switch off at signals longer than a minute.

Filling only to the first click and keeping the 6-litre tank above a quarter helps in two ways: fuel that sloshes out of a brimmed tank is wasted, and a near-empty tank on a hot day loses more to vapour. Realistic range is about 234 km, so on a 30 km commute you will fill up roughly once a week.

Service on time. A clogged air filter, a tired spark plug or a dragging brake shows up in mileage before it shows up anywhere else, and each is a cheap fix at the 3,000 km service.