Project SMX [Pic Heavy]

[NINJA]

@Calum 3K for an SX is a bit steep, I think he would be lucky to get 2-2.5K for it. The bike does look mint and well looked after tho. SX 125's generally go for less than MX's if the condition is similar. Although the SX is a newer model it's not quite as good as the MX, both in handling and power-wise, Ie. steel swing arm opposed to ali, softer suspension all-round, smaller front brake disc and less power from the Rotax 123 lump. The SX also has more restrictions due to the Euru3 laws, but they can be easily de-restricted for more power.

Lovely bikes tho, but I prefer the MX for it's better looks, better handling and higher power, plus the MX requires less work to reach it's maximum potential and of course it's a classic too!!! :grinning_face: :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

[Calum]

@NINJA Well I'm not being funny, it's worth 3k for the kit you're getting out the box, regardless whether the MX is better.#

Not saying I'd pay that for it, just that it's a solid bike.

I don't think that is running a 123 engine? Besides, from my understanding, yes it's an inferior engine than the 122, but we're talking minute power differences and they'd pull the same if you spent money into them. The 123 engine can be modified to take the 122 barrel.

But Ally swingarm is a must, I suspect it could be retro fitted to it mind you. Although having had a decent look at it, I think that one is ally.

I didn't realise that was a 2010 model. Even more so why it's worth a more premium price tag. One of the lasts.

Don't forget, that Zeeltronic make an ignition system for this engine that will bypass all that Euro3 malarky, allowing you to get top power out of that beast

Seriously that'll be a sweet little ride I reckon.

[NINJA]

@Calum I agree with ya, you do get a lot of kit for your hard earned cash, but considering that the SX was £3,099 brand new back in 2010, a 3K asking price today for an eight year old bike is pricey. The RX (Enduro) and SX (Supermoto) which were produced from 2008-2011 had either the 122 or 123, dependent on engine stocks. I think that the SX's had mostly 122's in them, but heavily restricted and obviously some RX's were converted into SX's. The SX is also 7Kg heavier than the MX, not a huge amount but still it's a bit of a disadvantage.

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/aprilia/aprilia_sx_125 09.htm

The new model released in this year now has a 4 stroke engine in them, it's the same lump from the RS4 and costs £3,399. It's made in China and not Italy, so whether that improves the overall quality of the bikes I'm not sure? It's also 12Kg heavier than the MX, so the newest model is getting to be a bit of a porker in 125 terms.

https://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/aprilia_sx_125_2018.php

The swing arm is definitely steel as a lot of owners swap it for the MX's ali version. The forks have softer springs and although I'm not 100% sure I think that the MX has a steeper head angle, which makes the steering sharper and gives it a more racier, twitchy feeling.

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/aprilia/aprilia_mx_125 04.htm

I know that no single review can ever give a straight back to back comparison, as all reviews can be subjective and an element of personal opinion does come into it from the reviewer. But if you compare these two reviews then there's a lot of like_for_like comparisons to weigh up;

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/aprilia/mx125/2003/

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/aprilia/sx125/2008/

And OK I accept that one bike is more restricted than the other, so it's not a direct like_for_like comparison, but at least you get to see both's bikes pro's and con's.

Interestingly the bike advertised does not state it's mileage, but it does say that it has been rebuilt from the ground up. Which raises the question of why has it been rebuilt? And yes a Zeeltronic would release it from it's shackles for-sure, couple that with an aftermarket exhaust and a few engine tweaks and you'll have her pulling super hard. So yeah I would agree she would be a sweet little ride for-sure!!! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :face_with_stuck-out_tongue_winking_eye: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

[Calum]

@NINJA Yeah, the way I see it, you can spend £3k on a four stroke SX, or get the better two smoker

It's pricey, but for a grand less you get a aging DTR with no USD's, piss poor engine and a lot heavier...

[NINJA]

@Calum But possibly better reliability with the DTR/X's or at least less maintenance, as the rotax engine's are race engines after-all.

[Calum]

@NINJA Yeah no doubt about that. But then if you wanted reliability go and get the new SX125.

[NINJA]

@Calum But we're all 2 stroke fanatic's in here aren't we??? :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_cold_sweat: :face_with_tears_of_joy: :smiling_face_with_sunglasses: :face_with_stuck-out_tongue_winking_eye: :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

[NINJA]

Thanks to the good weather I took advantage & cleaned, stripped down and resprayed a bunch of fiddly little parts today.

I also cleaned the 2 rear shocks I have in between coats of paint, I just need to give the mounts a quick respray and then pick the best one already for re-fitting. My fuel tank was in a pretty sorry state and my OCD also kicked in, so I decided to respray it. The original is just untreated plastic and although you don't really see a lot of it as it's underneath the radiator shrouds and seat. But hey-hoo I still know it's there and it looked tatty as bare plastic and also has some paint stains on her, so after several attempts and much rubbing down and respraying I finally got a decent finish on her!!! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Before;

Rubbed down;

After;

Not easy things to respray at home, I kept getting one side mint and the other side not so good. I guess I was getting too much over-spray which caused some problems, plus it was a very hot day so the paint dried super quick, it's like spraying a pyramid in reality. She's not perfect but will do for now and a vast improvement on the original for-sure. I'll let the paint cure for a week and then give her the final treatment of some petrol resistant lacquer to finish her off with, which should help protect her from any mishaps. :smiling_face_with_open_mouth:

[Calum]

@NINJA Looking good bud!

[Glynn123]

Impressive work mate, you're gonna have to sell it to me when it's done

[NINJA]

@Glynn123 Nope she's a keeper!!! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :smiling_face_with_heart-eyes: :smiling_face_with_sunglasses: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :smiling_face_with_heart-eyes:

[finnerz89]

@NINJA just remember to use premium fuel as the ethanol in cheap stuff can distort the plastic

Looking sweet though

[NINJA]

@finnerz89 I will only be using Shell V-Power in my baby. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :smiling_face_with_sunglasses: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

[finnerz89]

@NINJA good man! Same here

[NINJA]

A small update, I managed to get in a few hours this afty and cleaned the forks up, polished the stanchions as best I could and resprayed the dropouts. The stanchions have some marks on them, which would not come out sadly, plus they are ribbed so that made it even harder to get a decent finish on em. So their as good as they will get, but most of these marks are not really seen which is handy.

I then slid the yokes back on to test fit it all;

i didn't realise that the forks are Marzocchi units;

[Calum]

@NINJA Yes, it is the same on the Cagivas as well!

Looking clean. Small touches like that make a big difference

[NINJA]

@Calum Thanks bud, their not perfect but shiny and rust free will do for me!!!

[declan]

@NINJA it’s always harder to work with when it’s ribbed

[NINJA]

@declan said in Project SMX:

@NINJA it’s always harder to work with when it’s ribbed

Are we talking bike parts or condoms here??? :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes: :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_cold_sweat: :face_with_tears_of_joy:

[declan]

@NINJA how very dare you!!