According to a report from Bikewale, Piaggio India has postponed the launch of the Aprilia Storm 125 to January 2019. The Storm 125 made its premiere at the Auto Expo 2018 alongside the Aprilia SR125.
The company initially planned to launch the scooter in India during the festive season. Piaggio has postponed the launch as the company wants to introduce only the CBS variant of the Aprilia Storm 125 in the country. The initial strategy was to first launch the Storm 125 non-CBS variant in this festive season, followed by an upgraded CBS (combined braking system) model in April 2019.
According to the new safety norms, which comes into existence on 1 April 2019, two-wheelers below 125 cc engine displacement are mandated with CBS, while that above 125 cc will have to feature standard ABS. The new safety norms will result in an increase in prices of two-wheelers in the domestic market.
The Aprilia Storm 125 shares its underpinning with the SR125 but gets a different visual appeal. The bodywork features bright paint schemes in a matte finish and smaller 12-inch alloy wheels with broader off-road tires. The scooter gets 120-section front and 130-section rear tires. Comparatively, the Aprilia SR125 features 14-inch alloys that run on 12-section tires at both the ends.
Aprilia will offer a range of customisation accessories for the Storm 125. The company had displayed a matte yellow Storm 125 with a tall windshield at the Auto Expo 2018. According to the Bikewale report, the Storm 125 is targeted towards the younger audience and will sit below the SR125. Expect it to get a slightly lower price tag as compared to the Aprilia SR125.
Also Read: Mid-capacity Aprilia motorcycles under consideration - Report
Powering the Aprilia Storm 125 is the same 124.49 cc, single cylinder engine that powers the SR 125. The engine is capable of producing 9.51 bhp of maximum power at 7,250 rpm while developing a peak torque of 9.9 Nm at 6,250 rpm, paired to an automatic transmission. The Aprilia Storm features 30 mm telescopic front forks and a rear mono-shock. The scooter’s fuel tank capacity stands at 6.5 litres. The Aprilia Storm 125 will face competition from the TVS Ntorq 125, Suzuki Access 125, Honda Grazia and the upcoming Suzuki Burgman Street.
[Source: Bikewale]
