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

Piaggio Multimedia Platform iPhone Connectivity Announced for Piaggio X10 Maxi-Scooter

Piaggio announced a new iPhone connectivity system set to debut on its new X10 maxi-scooter. The Piaggio Multimedia Platform (PMP) will be available as a kit for the 125cc, 350cc and 500cc versions of the Piaggio X10, and eventually may be introduced to other models in the Piaggio Group (which would include the brands Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Vespa.) Designed by Re:Lab, the PMP system  turns an iPhone into an onboard computer and secondary display. The kit mounts the iPhone over the Piaggio insignia on the center of the X10′s handlebar which, from the rider’s perspective, puts it just below the scooter’s standard instruments.

Aprilia SRV850 Maxi-Scooter Gets Optional ABS and Traction Control

Aprilia announced it will produce a new version of the SRV850 maxi-scooter with an anti-lock braking system and traction control. The Aprilia SRV850 ABS/ATC is the latest scooter from the Piaggio Group to include both technologies, following the Piaggio BV350 and the Piaggio X10. The Aprilia SRV850 uses a sensors located in both wheels.

WSBK: 2012 Misano Results – Video

Max Biaggi strengthened his hold on the 2012 World Superbike Championship lead with a pair of wins at Italy’s Misano circuit. The Aprilia rider out-battled the Althea Ducati duo of Carlos Checa and Davide Giugliano to win Race One before taking a relatively easier Race Two victory. Before the races, WSBK riders lined up on the starting grid to hold a banner expressing their support for the Emilia region in northern Italy which has been suffering from earthquakes and continuing aftershocks since late May.

Max Biaggi sucking on a dummy

You can't fault Max Biaggi's performance on the track at Misano over the weekend, bagging a double-win on hia Aprilia, but you have to question his podium celebration. We're not sure what's going on here, but suspect it's something to do with his son, who was at the track for the first time to see his old man racing. Perhaps it's Biaggi's way of dedicating his victory to his son or could it be Biaggi's way of saying he's no longer spitting the dummy, something he's earned a reputation of doing over the years.

WSBK: 2012 Miller Results

Marco Melandri earned BMW its second ever World Superbike victory to move into second place in the championship standings behind Max Biaggi in the series’ only stop in the United States. Melandri won a red-flagged Race Two at Utah’s Miller Motorsports Park after finishing second to defending WSBK Champion Carlos Checa in Race One to give him 142.5 points on the season, tied with Kawasaki‘s Tom Sykes but behind Aprilia‘s Biaggi who leads the way with 160.5 points. Race One Highlights Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Aprilia Experience Coming To Miller WSBK This Weekend

As the World Superbike championship makes its next stop at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah this weekend, Aprilia USA will be on hand and is inviting everyone to be a part of the “Aprilia Experience.” Beginning Saturday, May 26 through Monday, May 28, Aprilia will be showcasing many of its popular models, including the Tuono V4R APRC, RSV4 Factory APRC, Shiver 750 and Dorsoduro 1200. Best of all, each of these four motorcycles will be available for demo rides throughout the weekend, on a route traversing the local mountains and canyons. In the display area, product specialists will be on hand to demonstrate key features of each motorcycle, as each is littered with technology that can be confusing for the unprepared.

It's just an Aprilia RS3 Cube

I never get tired of looking at Aprilia's RS3 Cube. I don't care about the fact it was a shit-or-bust gamble by Aprilia, that tarnished their almost immaculate GP reputation - infact that makes it even cooler. No-one expected Aprilia to enter a bike into the four-stroke category, their heritage in GP dictated that their interests lay in two-strokes, but what was more left-field than Aprilia's entry?

WSBK: 2012 Donington Results – Video

BMW earned its first-ever World Superbike race win at the U.K.’s Donington Park, but missed out on sweeping the round after teammates Leon Haslam and Marco Melandri crashed on the final corner while battling for the lead in the second race. Melandri earned BMW its landmark first win in Race One leading Haslam in a one-two finish. They could have repeated that finish in Race Two but Haslam low-sided after making contact with Honda‘s Jonathon Rea trying to pass on the inside.

Piaggio Reports Q1 2012 Results

Increased scooter sales offset a drop in motorcycle sales, but both segments reported increases in net sales for the Piaggio Group in the first quarter of 2012. According to Piaggio‘s first quarter report, the Group sold 9,400 motorcycles worldwide, down 8.2% from the 10,300 units sold in the same quarter last year. Scooter sales however saw a 7.9% increase to 79,200 units from 73,400 units.

WSBK: 2012 Monza Results

It was supposed to be a weekend of celebration. The World Superbike Championship was celebrating its 25th anniversary of racing at Italy’s Monza circuit. Promoters Infront Motorsports brought out 30 landmark Superbikes from the series’ history, while greats such as Fred Merkel, Doug Polen and Carl Fogarty were in attendance for what was supposed to be a weekend to remember.