ROAD NEWS
APRILIA SR GT LAUNCHED AT HAMPTON DOWNS
It ’ s fair to say that we haven ’ t seen too much track action in recent years thanks to the pandemic , so when Aprilia asked us to come along to Hampton Downs for the official launch
of the new SR GT scooter we were quick to reply with an emphatic yes ! The SR GT is Aprilia ’ s latest offering in the SR family and enters the Kiwi market with a 176cc engine putting down a very reasonable 17.4hp . Styling links in strongly to Aprilia ’ s flagship superbikes up front , while the rear features very long travel twin shocks to soak up those ( many ) road imperfections . Underseat storage is rated at a practical 25 litres - meaning there is enough space to safely ensconce most full-face helmets or a small grocery shop with ease . While our esteemed Mr Elliot actually snuck a full test in before the official launch ( see KR September 2022 Vol . 1 for his full test ) he sadly missed out on what is likely to be 2022 ’ s most fun-filled launch . Rocking up to the Hampton Down ’ s Go Kart track , which Aprilia NZ had hired for the day , we were immediately greeted by an SR GT Sport
READ OUR APRILIA SR GT TEST HERE with its eye-catching red wheels . The SR GT comes in two flavours and a range of colours , but the key difference between the base SR GT which is priced at $ 7490 and the pricier Sport model ($ 7690 ) is the aforementioned red wheels and different graphics on the bodywork . Despite being told we were limited to a top speed of 50km / h on the track and that we shouldn ’ t be overtaking , it wasn ’ t too long before the rules were dropped and we were having a ball with the SR GT . Throttling out of corners and slamming on the brakes and diving into the next was a hilariously fun experience that had some of us questioning why we don ’ t have a fully-fledged scooter racing championship . There was some actual testing going on amidst all the silliness . We found out reasonably quickly that the available lean angle to the left is limited by the factory centre stand on the track , and we also discovered that only the front brake features ABS . It was a fun introduction to Aprilia ’ s latest sporting scooter and with at least one of the bikes being ridden to the event on the highway they promise to be a very practical option in the class . Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day , however , had nothing to do with the bike itself but who was riding one , with Publisher Vege even joining the fun for a few laps .
100 KIWI RIDER