Aprilia Motorcycles

About Aprilia

Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle company, one of the marques owned by Piaggio.

Aprilia was founded after the Second World War by Cavaliere Alberto Beggio, as a bicycle production factory at Noale, Italy in the province of Venice. Alberto’s son, Ivano Beggio, took over the helm of the company in 1968 and constructed a 50 cc "motorcycle" with a dozen or so collaborators. The first production Aprilia mopeds were named Colibrì, Daniela and Packi. Aprilia later produced a motocross bike in 1970 called the Scarabeo. Produced until the end of the 1970s, the Scarabeo came in 50 and 125 cc versions.

In the 1980s Aprilia added enduro, trials and road bikes of between 50 and 600 cc. In 1981 Aprilia introduced the TL320 trials machine. In 1983 Aprilia launched to St 125 road bike. In 1984 Aprilia launched an improved model called STX, and an enduro, called the ET 50.

In 1985, Aprilia started outsourcing engines for some models to the Austrian company Rotax. In 1985 Aprilia launched a 125 STX and 350 STX. In 1986 Aprilia launched the AF1; a small sports model, and the Tuareg; a large tanked bike for African rallies like the Dakar Rally.

Aprilia has 124 times won 125 and 250 cc class Grand Prix, 15 Road Racing World Championship titles, and 16 European speed titles. Many world champions started on Aprilia such as Biaggi, Capirossi, Gramigni, Locatelli, Sakata and Rossi.

Also in the 1990s, Aprilia entered the scooter market starting in 1990 with Italy’s first all-plastic scooter, the Amico. In 1992, Aprilia introduced the Amico LK and the two stroke Pegaso 125, both with catalytic converters. In 1993 Aprilia launched a large diameter wheel scooter reusing the name Scarabeo with a four-stroke, four-valve engine. Later Aprilia launched more scooters such as the Leonardo, the SR and the Gulliver.

In 1995, Aprilia commissioned Philippe Starck to design the Motò which was shown in New York’s Modern Art Museum. Also in 1995 Aprilia launched the two stroke RS 125 and RS 250 sports bikes. In 1998 Aprilia launched what is its current flagship model the RSV Mille, a 1000cc V-Twin Superbike, and the Falco, a 1000cc V-Twin sport tourer with emphasis on sport. Both bikes used a variation of a Rotax 1000cc engine.

During 2000, Aprilia acquired Moto-Guzzi and Laverda, both historic heritage Italian marques. In 2000 Aprilia launched the 50 cc DiTech (Direct Injection Technology) two stroke engine for scooters which provides high mileage and low emissions, and also the RST Futura, a sport tourer, and the ETV 1000 Caponord; an adventure touring motorcycle. Both of these latter two motorcycles used a variation of the Rotax 1000 cc V-Twin.

Most recently, in 2003, Aprilia launched the RSV Mille Tuono which was essentially an RSV Mille with motorcross-style high handlebars and only a small headlight fairing. Most of the major motorcycle magazines picked it for the best bike of the year. In 2004 Aprilia was acquired by Piaggio & C. SpA, to form the world’s fourth largest motorcycle group with 1.5 billion Euro in sales, an annual production capacity of over 600,000 vehicles, and a presence in 50 countries.

Despite being a relatively small company by global motorcycling standards, Aprilia is very active in motorcycle sports. It contests many Road Racing formulae, including the FIM 125 cc World Championship, the FIM 250 cc World Championship, and the now-defunct FIM 500 cc World Championship.

Moto blog

Ford Ranger Wildtrak: part three

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2010 Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 Factory video

FULLY ADJUSTABLE suspension, Brembo brakes, wavy discs, fly-by-wire throttle - there's plenty of hi-tech stuff on Aprilia's 2010 Dorsudoro 750 Factory, and here's a promo video of the bike in action. The Aprilia's 750cc V-twin engine thumps out 92bhp in standard trim, which should propel the bike to a top speed of around 130mph (if you can hang on). 2010 Aprilia Dorsudoro specs: • 90° V twin layout• Liquid cooling• Tri-Map engine management and ride-by-wire throttle control• Very over-square bore to stroke ratio• Four valves per cylinder• Double overhead cam valve timing• Electronic fuel injection with two throttle bodies• Stick-coils integrated in the spark plug caps• Three way catalytic converter and Lambda probe• Hydraulically operated wet clutch

Charge Up you iPhone While You Ride

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2010 Aprilia RSV4 Engine Recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finally released information about the upcoming Aprilia RSV4 engine recall, and just as we suspected here at Motorcycle.com, the culprit was a faulty batch of connecting rods. Yes, the same conrods that curtailed the RSV4R’s European launch, attended by our correspondent Tor Sagen. That October media event at the world-class Mugello circuit was halted after five, count’em, FIVE engines blew.

Race Bradley Smith at any MotoGP venue

BRITISH RACING ace Bradley Smith has helped launch the new Capcom MotoGP 09/10 video game, at the Silverstone circuit in England. The Aspar Aprilia rider took on several journalists in a series of grand prix races featured on the new game. A new Tissot MotoGP watch was awarded to the journalist who beat Bradley, on time in a three lap race at the Mugello circuit in Italy, where Bradley won his second grand prix of the season last year. "It's a brilliant game not only for the racing at all the MotoGP venues, including the new circuits at the Balatonring in Hungary and Silverstone in England, but all aspects of grand prix racing including sponsorship, livery and PR," explained Smith who was joined by fellow British riders Scott Redding and Danny Webb, at the launch which was held at the prestigious BRDC suite at the Silverstone circuit, that will host the British Grand Prix this year. "There were some serious game players, there and I'm glad I don't have to meet them out on the track."

Used Review: Gaerne G-ike boots

This is Gaerne’s entry-level boot and I’ve been wearing it mainly as a commuting tool over the last year and a half. It’s a good-looking boot that looks like a trainer under jeans and is as comfortable as one too.  The G-Ike has plenty of support in the heel from a steel plate in the sole and plenty of thick plastic around the ankle.  I know for a fact having come off an Aprilia Shiver in these that they provide a fair amount of protection though not enough to stop me twisting an ankle. But they’ve held up really well and I’m still happy wearing them though not for winter as they’re far from waterproof and a tad drafty for sub-zero days.

2010 Aprilia RSV4R Engine Failure Delays Press Launch [video]

Aprilia cut short its launch event for the new RSV4R at Italy’s Mugello circuit as not one, not two, not three, not even four but FIVE pre-production models suffered engine failure. Motorcycle.com contributor Tor Sagen was at Mugello in Tuscany and was scheduled to do a few laps on the world-class circuit on the RSV4R, a lower-spec version of the Aprilia RSV4 Factory. Tor reports the engine problems were being attributed to the conrods from the first batch of 50 pre-production engines.

Aprilia RSV4 R Preview [video]

Aprilia has revealed the latest version of its potent new literbike, the RSV4 R. The R retains the same 65-degree V-4 engine (with 180 claimed horsepower) and the aluminum chassis as the previously unveiled “Factory” version but uses a few lesser-spec components to keep the costs down. More info, photos and a video after the jump.

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