After the wildly successful entry of late-model Vespas into the Philippine market—faulty fuel pump issues aside—MotoItalia is banking on another home run with the sporty Aprilia SR GT. With both Vespa and Aprilia under the Piaggio Group, it was only logical that the Philippine distributor would introduce a sporty alternative for the popular scooter category.

First introduced at EICMA 2021, the SR GT is a touring-focused scooter with a naked handlebar, long-travel suspension, and high ground clearance. The SR GT 200 uses a 174cc single-cylinder engine rated at 17.4hp and 16.5Nm matched to a continuously variable transmission. The all-new engine uses an aluminum cylinder with a Nikasil coating, a new piston with updated crown geometry, and a new head that contributes to better combustion efficiency. Its start/stop system is called RISS (Regulator Inverter Start and Stop system), which does away with the traditional starter in favor of a brushless electrical device directly installed on the crankshaft. The system is claimed to benefit users with a quieter start, lower weight, better reliability, and lower fuel consumption. Claimed fuel consumption is 38.5 km/L for the SR GT 200.

Matching the drivetrain is a quality Showa suspension. The fork uses 33mm stanchions with 4.8 inches of travel, while the rear features two coil springs and gas shock absorbers with four inches of travel and five-step adjustable preload. The braking system is comprised of a 260mm front disc and a 220mm rear disc, both petal-shaped for optimal heat dissipation and supplemented with single-channel ABS. It rides on 14–inch front and 13-inch rear alloy rims with wide cross section 110/80 and 130/70 tires. Curb weight is a svelte 148kg (wet), while ground clearance of no less than 6.9 inches makes the SR GT capable of venturing on light off-road surfaces.

Aesthetically, the SR GT’s front end evokes the sport bikes of Noale with its full LED three-element light cluster and double fairing, while its suspended windscreen and wide handlebar give a touch of enduro style. The instrumentation is fully digital with a large LCD display and Bluetooth connectivity for playing music, navigation, and receiving calls and messages. Underseat storage is 25L, while fuel tank capacity is 9L.

The standard model is priced at P219,000 and in available in Aprilia Black, Street Gray, and Infinity Blue. The Sport version is priced at P227,000 and comes slathered in the typical liveries of Aprilia’s sport bikes with Street Gold, Iridium Gray, and Red Raceway matte color schemes.

With prices like these and the virtually irresistible appeal of an Italian brand, expect the SR GT to sell much hotter than our sizzling summer temps.