Aprilia
APRILIA
The Austrian-Italian connection
WATCH OUT FOR APRILIA: That's the word out among other Italian motorcycle manufacturers. The bigger companies are worried about up-and-coming Aprilia moving in on their turf, and the smaller companies look to Aprilia as a shining example of what they might accomplish.
It wasn’t long ago that Aprilia itseir was one of those small companies. Founded 30 years ago as a bicycle manufacturer, Aprilia didn’t make its first motorcycle—a moped, really— until the earív 1970s.
In 1981. though, Aprilia got serious about full-size motorcycles. It decided to make a name for itself by going off-road racing on a scale unheard of for such a small factory. Italians responded to this act of brav ado by buying Aprilia's dirt-styled streetbikes to the tune 13,000 units in 1984. And this year, the company is sponsoring a national and world championship motocross effort, as well as two riders on the international trials circuit, teams in the major offroad rallies, and a 250cc GP roadracer that has already notched several top-five finishes. And at a time when some other manufacturers are worried about sales dropping off, Aprilia expects a jump in sales and is expanding its factory to accommodate the increased workload.
Aprilia's racing image obviously helps in competition-minded Italy, but there's another source of aid that has been important in the climb to prominence. Rather than build its own engines or contract with an Italian engine manufacturer, Aprilia went to Rotax. a modern, aggressive, Austrian company with a reputation for building stout-hearted four-stroke Singles and some of the w orld's most powerful two-strokes. The pairing has been good for both companies.
for Aprilia is now Rotax’s biggest customer; and for 1985, Aprilia's lineup has grown to 16 models, with all but two models (a pair of 50cc dual-purpose bikes) powered by engines from the Austrian firm.
That lineup, which ranges from 50cc to 600cc. is still heavily dirt-oriented, with four trials bikes, two motocrossers, two enduro racers and seven dual-purpose bikes, offset by a solitary, roadrace-styled streetbike, the AR125S. Still, enduro-styled bikes are the way to profitability in Italy right now. and Aprilia is excited about its new ETX350 and ETX600 four-strokes, which use electric start, counterbalanced, four-valve engines. Ihe real breadwinner, though, should be the new Tuareg 125, styled and named after the bikes that compete in the Tuareg Rally across the Sahara Desert.
If all goes as planned, America should see some Aprilias in the next year or two. And if that company’s
performance to date is any indication, then it won't just be other Italian motorcycle manufacturers that will have to watch out for Aprilia.
TUAREG RALLY 250
PRETENDERS. THAT’S WHAT MOST OF THE DUAL-
purpose bikes in Italy are, of course; styled to look like racers, but in truth capable of only a mild pace in the dirt. Unless, that is, you’re talking about the Aprilia Tuareg Rally 250. The Tuareg is every wheelie-artist’s dream, a genuine dirt bike that’s had turn signals, instruments and a license-plate bracket neatly grafted on.
In truth, the bike’s reason for being has more to do with reducing inventory than Aprilia’s desire to supply the public with the ultimate rally-replica. Last year, 200 enduro racers were moribund in the company warehouse, the victims of a declining off-road market. In a last-ditch move to unload the bikes, Aprilia made them street-legal and hung huge, rallystyle gas tanks on their frames, and within two weeks the whole lot was in the hands of happy owners.
This year, Aprilia will capitalize on that demand by making 700 Tuareg Rallys. The bike is still based on the enduro racers, with slightly shorter suspension and an engine tuned to give more midrange power; and it includes a seven-gallon, clamshell-type fuel
tank that splits into two parts, just like the rally bike’s, so you can continue on your way should you fall and puncture one side of the tank.
Of course, there is a price for all this rally realismsuch as having to replace the piston and rings every at regular intervals, just like on the racebikes. Still, that’s a small price to pay for endless wheelies and the envy of all those other riders on “ordinary” dual-purpose bikes.
Aprilia Tuareg Rally 250
$2121
ETX 350
F AND WHEN APRILIA STARTS SELLING MOTORCYCLES
in America, the ETX350 and ETX600 dual-purpose bikes will play a big part in the company’s plans.
We rode an ETX350 on the roads and trails near Aprilia's Noale factory, mindful that for the bike to succeed here in America, it will have to take on Honda’s XL350, which Cycle World proclaimed the best dual-purpose bike of 1 984. A head-to-head comparison will have to wait until the ETX actually hits American shores, but we still came away with some interesting observations.
In terms of overall quality, the ETX350 is the bestmade dual-purpose bike we’ve seen, easily a cut above the XL. The Honda counters with better engine performance; not only is it two-tenths of a second quicker in quarter-mile acceleration, but it feels peppier and is able to loft its front wheel in the first three gears. The Aprilia 350 has to work hard to get airbone even in second.
Points go to the ETX when it comes to features, though. It comes standard with an oil cooler, a luggage rack, disc brakes front and rear, and electric starting. Its Marzocchi suspension provides a half-inch more wheel travel, and electric starting makes the bike easier to live with day-to-day—although it helps give the 269-pound Honda a 30-pound advantage in claimed dry weight. At least the added weight doesn’t seem to affect the ETX’s excellent street handling. The Honda also comes out on top in the list-price category, for while the ETX obviously does not yet have a U.S. price, it will likely cost $300 to $400 more than the XL.
Whether the Aprilia’s strong points will be enough to sway riders from the XL remains to be seen. Either way, the choice won't be easy. And with the ETX600, which promises performance that is equal to or better than that of its Japanese rivals, the decision will be harder still.
Aprilia ETX350
$2395
AR125S
THERE engine WAS was TIME thoroughly FOR ONLY warm, TWO too RUNS, warm AND for THE optimum performance. Yet the Aprilia AS125R nicked off a l 6.1 2-second quarter-mile, traveling over 77 mph at the end. On a long straight, it hauled itself up to 90 mph. Incredible performance for a l 25.
Aprilia’s 125 can thank its Rotax engine for this outstanding performance. The reed-valve single is fitted with a guillotine-type power valve in the exhaust port. With the aid of this valve, the engine begines pulling nicely at 5500 rpm,comes fully on the pipe at 6000, and runs out hard to 9000 rpm. This powerband, combined with rubber engine mounts, gives the motor the refined feel of an RZ350 engine.
Aprilia AS125R
:$1700
