Aprilia

Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle company, owned by Piaggio as part of the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer. more...

Home
Automobilia
Car Accessories
Car Manuals & Literature
Car Parts
Car Tuning & Styling
Car Wheels, Tyres & Trims
Cars
Cherished Numbers
Classic Car Parts
Classic Cars
Commercial Vehicles
In-Car Entertainment & GPS
Motorcycle Clothing &...
Motorcycle Parts &...
Motorcycles & Scooters
Aprilia
Benelli
BMW
BSA
Buell
Bultaco
Cagiva
CCM
Derbi
Ducati
Gas Gas
Gilera
Harley Davidson
Honda
Husaberg
Husqvarna
Hyosung
Italjet
Kawasaki
KTM
Kymco
Lambretta
Laverda
Malaguti
MBK
Montesa
Moto Guzzi
Moto Roma
MZ
Norton
Other Motorcycles
Other Scooters
Peugeot
Piaggio
Puch
Royal Enfield
Sachs
Singer
Sunbeam
Suzuki
Sym
Trikes, ATVs & Quads
Triumph
Vespa
Yamaha

Aprilia started as a scooter manufacturer, but has more recently come to be known for its race-winning sportsbikes. It is most recently best known for its flagship 1000 cc V2 Superbike, the RSV Mille.The Aprilia Mille Factory also apprears in The Rockstar video game: Midnight Club 3

History

Aprilia was founded immediately 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 he 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 1977 Ivan Alborghetti from Milan, Italy won the Italian 125 and 250 cc motorcross championships on Aprilias. In 1978 Alborghetti closed the season with two third places in individual races and sixth place in the World Championship.

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. Aprilia rider Philippe Berlatier contended for the trials world championship reaching fifth place, and Loris Reggiani rode an Aprilia GP 250 with Rotax engine to sixth place in the road racing World Championship. Two seasons later, on August 30, 1987, at San Marino Grand Prix in Misano Loris Reggiani’s AF1 won the first World Speed Championship.

In 1988, the first Aprilias were imported into the United States, starting with the TRX312M observed trials model. The following year, Aprilia introduced The Climber, the first "mass-production" liquid-cooled trials bike.

In 1990, Aprilia launched the Pegaso 600, a road bike derived from off-road mechanics.

In 1992, Aprilia rider Alessandro Gramigni won the World 125 Road Racing Championship title. Also in 1992, Tommy Ahvala won the World Trials Championship on an Aprilia Climber. Since then, 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.

Read more at Wikipedia.org