Aprilia SR Max 300 scooter arrives

It arrives this month at $6990 which is highly competitive with other mid-sized scooters.

Andy Pecora of Aprilia importer John Sample Automotive says the SR Max 300 should be considered "equal to a more GT sports/touring styled motorcycle". 

With a 15.5-litre fuel tank, longer wheelbase and more comfortable dimensions than most scooters, it is certainly more attuned to longer distance travel than most commuter scooters.

The SR Max has 155mm longer wheelbase than the Sport City 300, making it not only more comfortable but also more stable at highway speeds. 

"The SR Max 300 will be completely at home on motorways or touring long distances which is not really the domain of a typical scooter," says Pecora.

"The 300cc water-cooled engine provides the performance for acceleration and top speeds that complement the chassis which is tuned for both city commuting and higher speed riding." Fuel economy and CO2 figures are not yet available, but it is expected to be a conservative runner with range of at least 300km.

The SR MAX 300 features a compact but light nose, a silver coloured grille between the twin lights, and a simple, thin screen. The "factory red" graphics are race inspired with the livery derived from the RSV4 Factory. It is also available in white.

The two-colour saddle is made from a sport fabric and is equipped with lumbar support for the rider, while the passenger has access to large grip handles and a wide and comfortable seat. It is powered by a single-cylinder four-valve, liquid-cooled, electronic-injected engine with 16kW of power and a maximum torque of 23Nm at 6000 revs.

Stability is due to the strong double cradle frame made of high-strength tubular steel. The suspension is more sophisticated than most scooters with 35mm hydraulic telescopic forks up front and a double hydraulic shock absorber with three-position spring preload adjustment at the rear.

Brakes are also strong with a 260mm disc up front and 240mm at the rear, and it runs on 15-inch wheels with tubeless tyres (120/70 front and 140/60 rear).

Aprilia SR Max 300

Price: $6990
Warranty: 2yrs/unlimited km
Service intervals: 10,000km (transmission belt 15,000km)
Engine: 278cc single-cylinder 16kW/23Nm
Transmission: CVT auto
Dimensions: 2110mm (l), 780mm (w), 815mm (seat)
Fuel tank: 15.5 litres