2012–2013 · Scooter · Buyer's Guide
Italian Urban Agility, Delivered
The Sportcity 125 Cube Special is Aprilia's take on the high-wheel scooter, and the recipe is straightforward: 15-inch wheels at both ends, a steel tube frame and a liquid-cooled 125 cc four-stroke single. That engine makes 15 hp at 10,000 rpm and 9 lb-ft at 8,500 rpm, which tells you it's built to rev. A belt handles final drive. It weighs 326 lb (148 kg) wet and sits on a 54.1 in (1,375 mm) wheelbase, so it's a compact package with Italian styling and a sporty streak that suits the brand. In its class, the big wheels are what set it apart. Light, tidy, purposeful.
Read the spec sheet and the job description is obvious: this is a city tool. A 30.7 in (780 mm) seat height keeps your feet within easy reach at every red light. The flat floor and storage point to everyday errands rather than weekend touring, and the 2.2 gal (8.5 L) tank is sized for short daily hops. With a 62 mph (100 km/h) top speed, it belongs on surface streets and city boulevards, not the interstate. The controls are simple and running costs stay low. If your riding is the daily grind, the hardware lines up with it. Built for exactly that!
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 15 hp (11 kW) @ 10,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 9 lb-ft (12 Nm) @ 8,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 125 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Front tire | 120/70-15 |
| Rear tire | 130/80-15 |
| Wheelbase | 54.1 in (1375 mm) |
| Seat height | 30.7 in (780 mm) |
| Wet weight | 326 lb (148 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.2 gal (8.5 L) |
| Top speed | 62 mph (100 km/h) |
I've spent years listening to Sportcity owners: in paddocks, at club nights, and in the emails and messages you send me. The pattern for the 125 Cube Special is clear. Riders like how it looks and how it stops, and they're less happy with how it holds together and what it drinks.
The most consistent praise is for the mix of style and use: owners like the sharp Aprilia design and say it still does the daily commute properly, with an optional top box for extra room. Riders also keep coming back to the brakes. They describe the discs as strong, with good feel, and call them a standout among 125 scooters. Agile, confident handling gets the same nod.
Electrical trouble is the complaint I hear most, and owners add instrument failures to that list. Fuel use is the next recurring gripe: riders regularly report 47 to 59 mpg (4 to 5 L/100 km) and call that thirsty for a 125 next to its rivals. Some taller owners mention a thinly padded seat and a position that strains the back and shoulders on longer rides. Others point to plastics that feel cheap, plus switches and seat latches that give up early. Not a short list.
Random electrical cutouts while riding
Intermittent electrical faults cause the engine to cut out unpredictably, which can be dangerous in traffic. Often traced to corroded fuse boxes or wiring.
Fuel line splitting and fuel leaks
The factory fuel lines are not braided and can split, leaking petrol onto the hot exhaust. A serious safety hazard that requires immediate replacement with reinforced hose.
Immobilizer antenna failure causes no start
The immobilizer antenna ring can fail, preventing the engine from starting even with a recognized key. The bike will crank but not fire.
Clutch judder on take-off
A juddering sensation when pulling away from a stop, caused by glazed or contaminated clutch plates in the CVT. Sanding the clutch faces provides temporary relief but the issue often returns.
Where this Aprilia Sportcity 125 Cube Special pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Sportcity 125 Cube Special is actually built for.
If your day is stop-and-go traffic, tight parking and short hops, this is the best fit here: light, compact, a low 30.7 in seat and real storage. Keep it off the freeway and it does the job.
Made for New York City · Austin · Los Angeles
For your weekday city loop it's a solid, easy match. Weekend ridge roads like Skyline are another story: 15 hp and a 62 mph top speed make it a commuter first, not a ridge-road machine.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
