Quick Analysis
Aprilia Storm 125
10.5 pts
Unweighted: 10 advantages
EnginePerformanceDimensionsBrakesTyresFeaturesOther
SUZUKI GSX-8R
22.0 pts
Unweighted: 12 advantages
EnginePerformanceDimensionsBrakesTyresFeaturesOther
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
Engine Specifications |
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| Cooling System | Air‑cooled | — |
| Displacement | 124.45 cc | 776 cm3 |
| Engine Type | Single‑cylinder, 4‑stroke, air‑cooled, 3‑valve | 4-stroke, 2-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC |
| Power | 9.92 PS @ 7700 rpm | 81.8 bhp @ 8500 rpm |
| Torque | 9.7 Nm @ 6000 rpm | 78 Nm @ 6800 rpm |
Performance & Efficiency |
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| Fuel Tank Capacity | 6.5 l | 14 L |
| Mileage | 40 kmpl | 23.8 kmpl |
Dimensions & Weight |
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| Kerb Weight | 118 | 205 kg |
| Seat Height | 780 mm | 810 mm |
Brakes & Suspension |
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| ABS | — | Dual Channel |
| Front Brake | Disc brake (220 mm) | Disc 310 mm Caliper - Front 4 Piston |
| Front Suspension | Hydraulic double-telescopic fork | Inverted telescopic, coil spring, oil damped |
| Rear Brake | Drum brake (140 mm) | Disc Caliper - Rear 1 Piston |
| Rear Suspension | Hydraulic shock | Link type, coil spring, oil damped |
Tyres & Wheels |
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| Front Tyre | 120/80‑12 | 120/70ZR17M/C (58W) |
| Rear Tyre | 130/80‑12 | 180/55ZR17M/C |
| Tyre Type | Tubeless | Tubeless |
| Wheel Type | Alloy | Alloy |
Features & Technology |
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| Headlight | LED | — |
Other Specifications |
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| Battery | 12 V / 5 Ah | — |
| Bike Image 1 | https://motoautiv.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/sr_storm_yellow-scaled.webp | https://motoautiv.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/gsx8rmetallicmattblack.webp |
| Bike Image 2 | — | https://motoautiv.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/gsx8rmetallicmattswordsilver.webp |
| Cluster | Analogue + digital console | — |
| Color Options | Matte Red |#e3292f Matte Yellow|#ffff00 | Metallic Matt Black Metallic Matt Sword Silver Metallic Triton Blue |
| Cons | The seat is firm and compact, which can feel less comfortable on longer rides or with a pillion. The suspension is firm, so rough or pothole-laden roads transmit more bumps to the rider. Fuel tank capacity is modest at 6.5 litres, limiting range for longer trips. Storage space is limited, restricting the ability to carry larger items or full-face helmets comfortably. Being a smaller-displacement scooter, highway cruising is limited, and top speeds are moderate. | Doesn’t deliver the high-revving top-end excitement of inline-4 supersport motorcycles. Wind protection at very high speeds is modest and can feel tiring on long highway rides. Suspension tuning leans slightly firm, which can feel bumpy on rough roads. Weight is on the heavier side, noticeable at low speeds or during tight maneuvers. Not designed for hardcore track riders seeking extreme performance or razor-sharp handling. Fuel economy drops significantly when ridden aggressively. |
| Detailed Overview | Riding the Aprilia SR Storm 125 gives you a sense of having a sporty, nimble scooter beneath you — its heart is a 124.49 cc, air‑cooled, single‑cylinder engine with a 3‑valve head and fuel injection. That sounds modest, but in the context of urban and everyday commuting it’s tuned to deliver consistent, usable performance. With about 9.92 PS of power at 7,700 rpm and 9.7 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm, the Storm 125 doesn’t offer wild acceleration, but it provides smooth, predictable acceleration that’s more than enough to dart through city traffic or handle daily errands without fuss. The automatic CVT + belt‑drive means you don’t need to worry about shifting — just twist and go, which is ideal for traffic, frequent stops or unpredictable stop‑and‑go conditions. Underneath, the Storm rides on a tubular steel frame, supported up front by a telescopic fork (with a 30 mm inner tube) and at the rear by a mono‑shock absorber. The wheels are 12‑inch alloys, wrapped with tubeless tyres — 120/80‑12 at the front and 130/80‑12 at the rear. That combination gives the scooter a compact footprint, making it easier to weave through traffic or negotiate narrow lanes. The smaller wheels and higher‑profile tyres help soften the ride over potholes or rough stretches compared with low‑profile tyres: while it won’t ride like a large cruiser, the Storm feels more forgiving over broken or uneven roads than a typical performance‑oriented small scooter might. Braking is handled via a 220 mm disc at the front and a 140 mm drum at the rear, with a Combined Braking System (CBS) to help distribute braking force — which means braking is stable and weighted rather than sudden, useful in city conditions or when a quick stop is needed. That front disc gives enough bite for confident stopping without fuss. In terms of size, the Storm stretches about 1,985 mm in length, with a wheelbase of 1,365 mm — compact enough to feel agile but long enough to give reasonable stability. Seat height sits at about 780 mm, which tends to be manageable for most riders, making stops or mounting/dismounting easier in day‑to‑day use. The kerb weight is roughly 118 kg: light enough to manoeuvre easily in tight traffic, yet with enough heft to stay planted at moderate speeds or on uneven surfaces. A 6.5‑litre fuel tank sits under the fuel cap. That size isn’t huge, but paired with the modest engine and decent fuel efficiency (official figures suggest around 38–40 km/l — real‑world numbers will vary with riding style), it offers a practical range for daily commuting, errands, or short-to-medium rides before needing a refill. On the features front, Storm 125 doesn’t try to be flashy — it keeps things practical. You get a simple analogue + digital instrument cluster that shows speed, fuel level, trip info, etc. The headlight and tail/indicator lighting are LED (or partially LED, depending on the variant), which helps with visibility. There’s under‑seat storage, a passenger footrest, a low‑fuel warning lamp, and a USB charging port in some variants — helpful touches if you use the scooter for errands, short trips, or commuting with a phone/GPS in tow. Starting is achieved via kick as well as electric self‑start — handy for reliability or if the battery is low. What this all adds up to in real life is a scooter that’s built to be practical, economical, and easy to live with — but with a twist of sportiness and style. The Storm 125 doesn’t try to pretend it’s a high‑power motorcycle; rather, it leans into being a user-friendly, agile, and fairly efficient daily rider with a more aggressive look and feel than a basic commuter. It is especially suited for those who navigate busy city streets, need easy parking and manoeuvrability, and want a scooter that’s simple to ride, easy to maintain, and functional for everyday needs — but with a bit more character than a plain‑Jane scooter. | Riding the GSX-8R feels like Suzuki’s attempt to give you a middleweight sportbike that’s equally at home in everyday traffic, curvy mountain roads and spirited weekend runs. It packs a 776 cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke parallel-twin engine with DOHC and a 270-degree crank. That means it’s not just about straight-line speed — the 270° crank gives the engine a throaty, V-twin–like rumble and a broad, usable torque band instead of a peaky, high-revving nature typical of many sport-bikes. The “cross-balancer” Suzuki uses helps keep vibration in check, meaning that even on longer rides or in stop-and-go city traffic, the engine stays smooth and more comfortable than you might expect from a half-litre-plus street-fighter. The motor is rated to produce around 81–82 bhp at about 8,500 rpm and a healthy 78 Nm of torque at around 6,800 rpm. In real-life terms, you get strong mid-range punch — meaning overtakes on highways or quick accelerations from a traffic light feel confident without needing to wring the engine out to the redline. That balance makes the GSX-8R versatile: capable of quick, enthusiastic blasts when you want sporty fun, but also manageable in city commutes or everyday riding. The 6-speed gearbox helps you extract that torque smoothly, and the bike comes with a bi-directional quick-shift system built in. In practice that means you can shift up or down without pulling in the clutch — a real bonus if you like brisk, crisp gear changes during sporty riding or just want ease while navigating traffic. Suzuki hasn’t compromised on the chassis: a steel frame built around the engine keeps the bike slim, compact, and well-balanced, while an aluminum swingarm adds to nimble handling and stability. The geometry — with a wheelbase of 1,465 mm, moderate rake/trail (25° / 104 mm), and a curb weight of 205 kg — positions the GSX-8R in that sweet spot where it feels stable at speed yet flickable enough when carving through corners. Suspension plays a big part in how the bike behaves on real roads. Up front there are inverted telescopic forks from SHOWA (oil-damped, coil-spring), and at the back a link-type mono-shock. That setup gives you a controlled, firm ride when pushing hard — helpful for sporty riding — but also enough compliance to absorb bumps, potholes or rough patches you might encounter on Indian roads or during longer rides. The balance leans toward sporty control without making the ride harsh. When it comes to tyres and wheels, the GSX-8R runs on 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels with 120/70 ZR17 front and 180/55 ZR17 rear tyres — high-performance radials from Dunlop (RoadSport 2) with good wet-grip and durability. That means cornering, braking and overall grip feel confident — even if road conditions are not ideal. The braking setup — twin discs up front and a rear disc, with ABS — helps ensure your stopping power matches the bike’s punch. As for packaging, the GSX-8R isn’t overly bulky: at 2,155 mm long, 770 mm wide, and 1,135 mm tall, with a seat height of 810 mm, it manages a sporty footprint without feeling unwieldy. For many riders, that translates into reasonably manageable maneuverability in city traffic or narrow roads — though at 810 mm seat-height and 205 kg weight, taller riders will feel more at home; beginners or shorter riders may find the seat quite firm and the weight noticeable when stationary. Fuel-wise, a 14-litre tank gives a decent range, and the bike returns, according to official WMTC figures, about 23.8 km per litre under mixed usage. That’s respectable for a middleweight sportbike — meaning for many of your urban rides, weekend joyrides or moderate touring, the fuel economy remains fairly practical rather than thirsty. The electronics and rider aids make a strong case for the GSX-8R being more than just raw hardware. A 5-inch colour TFT display serves as the meter console, giving essential info at a glance. The throttle is ride-by-wire, giving smooth control over power delivery, and there’s a selectable riding-mode system (with Active, Basic and Comfort modes) that lets you tailor throttle response and torque delivery to conditions — useful when switching between city traffic, wet roads, or spirited riding. Add in traction-control (adjustable), low-rpm assist to ease traffic starts, and an easy-start button — and you have a package that aims for practicality without stripping away sportiness. Styling and ergonomics matter too, and Suzuki seems to have paid attention. The GSX-8R carries a sharp, modern sportbike stance — aggressive fairing and front design, slim rear, exposed seat rails, compact proportions — that signals performance without going overboard. The riding position is slightly sporty: the forward-positioned “hip point” and mildly aggressive handlebars let you lean into corners confidently — but it’s not so extreme that city commuting becomes uncomfortable. Putting all this together — power, chassis, suspension, electronics and practicality — the GSX-8R feels like Suzuki’s answer for someone wanting a “do-it-all” middleweight bike: capable of daily commuting, fun weekend rides, spirited canyon runs or moderate touring without forcing you to compromise too much. It isn’t the most powerful in its class — but the balance it strikes, especially with torque-rich engine, rider aids, handling and usability, may make it a very compelling all-rounder, especially in markets like India where roads, fuel economy and versatility matter. Lastly, in terms of cost, the bike is priced at around ₹ 9.25 lakh (ex-showroom, for the base/standard variant). That positions it quite competitively in the mid-range sportbike segment, offering a lot of modern features and a usable engine without the premium price tag that heavy superbikes carry. If I were telling a friend which kind of rider this bike suits best: the GSX-8R is ideal for someone who wants a sporty, engaging ride — but not at the cost of everyday usability. If you commute, do city traffic, occasional highway runs, weekend joyrides or light touring, this one fits beautifully. If you’re after raw top-end speed or hardcore track performance, it might not blow away everything — but as a balanced, real-world sportbike, it’s one of the stronger contenders in its class right now. |
| Expert Review | Aprilia Storm 125 has rugged, sporty design and gives confident handling, but is frequently criticized for its stiff suspension, lack of modern features (like LED lights and digital tech) by the users., 4, MotoAutiv Team | MotoAutiv Team |
| FAQ (Manual Override) | Q: What is the engine type? A: The engine is a single-cylinder, 4-stroke, air-cooled, 3-valve unit. Q: What is the engine displacement? A: The displacement is 124.49 cc. Q: What is the power output? A: The power output is approximately 9.92 PS at 7700 rpm. Q: What is the torque? A: The torque is about 9.7 Nm at 6000 rpm. Q: What is the mileage? A: The mileage is around 38–40 km/l depending on riding conditions. Q: What type of cooling system does it have? A: It has an air-cooled system. Q: What type of transmission does it use? A: The scooter comes with an automatic CVT. Q: What type of fuel system does it have? A: It uses fuel injection with petrol. Q: What are the front and rear brakes? A: The front brake is a 220 mm disc, and the rear brake is a 140 mm drum. Q: Does it have ABS? A: It has a Combined Braking System (CBS), not ABS. Q: What is the front suspension? A: The front suspension is a hydraulic telescopic fork. Q: What is the rear suspension? A: The rear suspension is a hydraulic shock absorber. Q: What are the tyre sizes? A: The front tyre is 120/80-12, and the rear tyre is 130/80-12, both tubeless. Q: What type of wheels does it have? A: The scooter has 12-inch alloy wheels. Q: What is the kerb weight? A: The kerb weight is approximately 118 kg. Q: What is the seat height? A: The seat height is 780 mm. Q: What is the fuel tank capacity? A: The fuel tank capacity is 6.5 litres. Q: What type of headlight does it have? A: The scooter comes with LED headlight and LED tail/indicator lights. Q: What type of starter does it have? A: It has both electric and kick start. Q: What type of instrument cluster does it have? A: It has a combined analogue and digital console displaying speed, fuel level, trip meter, and low-fuel warning. Q: Is the Aprilia SR Storm 125 suitable for city commuting? A: Yes, its compact size, light weight, automatic transmission, and agile handling make it ideal for urban traffic. Q: Does it have under-seat storage? A: Yes, there is under-seat storage suitable for small items or a helmet. | Q: What is the mileage? A: The mileage is about 23.8 km/l under mixed riding conditions. Q: What is the fuel-tank capacity? A: It has a 14-litre fuel tank. Q: What is the engine displacement? A: The engine displacement is 776 cc. Q: What type of engine does it have? A: It uses a liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC parallel-twin engine with a 270° crank. Q: What kind of transmission does it use? A: It has a 6-speed constant-mesh manual gearbox. Q: What are the tyre sizes? A: The front tyre size is 120/70 ZR17 and the rear is 180/55 ZR17. Q: What kind of suspension does it have? A: Up front there's an inverted telescopic fork (oil-damped, coil spring), and at the rear a link-type mono-shock (oil-damped, coil spring). Q: What is the kerb weight? A: The kerb weight is 205 kg. Q: What braking setup does it use? A: It features twin disc brakes at the front, a disc brake at the rear, and includes ABS. Q: What kind of electronics / riding aids does it offer? A: It includes ride-by-wire throttle, selectable riding modes, digital instrumentation, and rider-assist features for better control and usability. |
| Fuel System | Petrol, fuel‑injected | Fuel injection |
| Price Variants | | 112869 | | 988550 |
| Pros | The Storm 125 has nimble and agile handling, making it easy to weave through city traffic and park in tight spaces. Its sporty and aggressive design stands out, giving it a premium, performance-oriented look compared with regular scooters. The engine delivers smooth, usable performance, with enough punch for urban commuting and occasional highway bursts. Front disc and rear drum brakes with CBS provide reliable stopping power and enhance rider confidence. Automatic CVT transmission makes it very easy to ride in stop-and-go traffic without the hassle of manual gear changes. LED lighting and combined analogue-digital cluster improve visibility and modernize the riding experience. Lightweight (118 kg) and compact dimensions make the scooter easy to maneuver, even for newer riders. | Strong and usable mid-range torque that makes the bike easy to ride in the city and lively on open roads. Smooth engine character thanks to the 270° crank, giving a refined feel even at higher speeds. Comfortable yet sporty riding posture that works for daily use as well as weekend rides. Agile handling with good stability, making it confidence-inspiring for both new and experienced riders. Modern electronics like riding modes, traction control, ride-by-wire, and quick-shifter add convenience and safety. High-quality build and attractive, modern styling with a sharp fairing and sleek proportions. Versatile enough for commuting, spirited cornering, and even moderate touring. |
| Starter | Kick + Electric self‑start | — |
| Transmission | Automatic | 6 Speed Manual |
