Aprilia Powers Up

APRILIA POWERS UP

ROUNDUP

BEFORE LONG, THERE will be another Italian company producing V-Twin-powered motorcycles. Aprilia has displayed a prototype of its V-Twin engine, which is expected to power a variety of streetbikes and racers.

Little specific information was released about the engine or the bikes it will power, but the fuel-injected, liquid-cooled motor appears to be very small and light.

Apparently a 60-degree design, the Rotax-built eightvalve engine can be produced in sizes ranging from 650 to lOOOcc, according to insiders, and can be fitted with one, two or three sparkplugs per cylinder, depending on the displacement and application.

Sources say the option of building the engine in different capacities will allow it to be used for a range of motorcycles, including a large-displacement sportbike, which will be the basis for a racebike that will compete in World Superbike racing, beginning with the 1996 season.

Alan Cathcart