The bike is always dangerous, in the sense that you can get hurt even with 15 HP. But it would be absurd not to admit that 35 HP in the hands of a sixteen year old with little experience are much more dangerous! For example, the 1994 Aprilia RS 125 R Extrema claimed 34.6 HP (32.9 measured at the wheel) for 130kg. The top speed was 173.1 km/h, while acceleration over 400 meters stopped the clock at 14.303 s.
Performances that align it to the top of today’s A2 license nakeds (depowered excluded). Just think that a two-cylinder Honda CB500F reaches 176 km/h and accelerates in 14 seconds flat.
The measured power is higher: 45 HP, but the extra 47 kg makes itself felt! Today, the “same” RS 125 in our survey scored 12.15 HP, for a top speed of 121.2 km/h. The 0-400 m is covered in 18.7 s. The only thing that still brings it closer to its ancestor is the weight, despite the 4-stroke engine and the various additions for Euro standards: 136 kg. Today we believe that a slightly higher limit would be realistic: with modern electronics, ABS and traction control, 20bhp would be perfectly acceptable. The standard on 125, however, is the result of a European compromise, which has allowed countless “B” licenses to bring a scooter or moped, perhaps making them passionate and then pushing them to A2 or A3 licenses, to be able to ride even larger motorcycles. displacement.