APRILIA SPORT CITY 300 (2008 - 2011) Review

The Aprilia SportCity Cube is a totally restyled version of the Sportcity 250ie chassis fitted with a bored and stroked Piaggio Quasar engine, taking it to 278cc. It may seem like 300cc is an odd choice of capacity, but it gives Aprilia a head-on rival to Honda’s Italian chart-topping SH300 high-wheeler that’s both stylish and comfortable around town.

The Aprilia SportCity has always had a stiff, fine-handling chassis despite the mono-tube frame being arched under a truly flat floor, but the frame was always quite heavy, particularly for the 125cc version. But the new Aprilia SportCity Cube is a joy to ride: nippy, responsive and very good on the brakes thanks to twin 260mm discs on the front wheel. The Cube’s 15” wheels sport high-profile tyres aimed at further improving the scooter’s manners on poor surfaces compared to lower-profile rubber used on larger wheels.

Maximising the performance of the smaller block engine is a good move for the Aprilia SportCity Cube. Keeping unsprung weight to a minimum allows for more reactive suspension over the potholed minefields that city councils laughably refer to as streets. With the new engine, power has been shifted lower down the rev range, producing 1Nm more torque. This does more for the Aprilia SportCity Cube’s acceleration than it does for top speed.   

Aprilia’s build quality has always been among the best of the Italians, and is often on a par with Honda scoots, so no real complaints there. No reliability issues to mention so far, either.

Excellent. When introduced, Aprilia’s new SportCity Cube 300 was not only a great improvement over the old SportCity – it was also £500 cheaper, too. Find an Aprilia SportCity for sale.

Apart from the engine change, the Aprilia SportCity Cube has had a host of other changes over the old SportCity: The helmet bay under the seat has been slightly enlarged, though it will still only take a ‘jet’ helmet and not a full-face. The seat maintains its 815mm height, but is now broader and fitted with a grippier cover. Also there is a longer, integral alloy rack and passenger grab handle. Compare and buy parts for the SportCity in the MCN Shop.