Aprilia held an off-road press conference and party to shed light on their newly launched off-road project. Four versions of two models were presented by Aprilia and Piaggio’s top men. RXV 4.5 & 5.5 and SXV 4.5 & 5.5 were shown in production ready form. Leo Francesco Mercanti, Director of the brand unit, also talked about Aprilia’s future as a motorcycle manufacturer. ‘Bike me’ is the somewhat awkward sounding slogan for the offroad project that has kicked off with the two XV’s. ‘Race me’ and ‘Tour me’ could be the slogans for the sports and touring section of the Aprilia marketing machine. Apparently the slogans sounds ace in Italian.
Mercanti started his speech by talking about Aprilia’s new product strategy where the offroad part plays an important role. In the next three years Aprilia will launch 20 new products ranging from 50cc scooters to 1000cc sportsbikes. To fulfil this commitment to the market a 100 million Euro investment is earmarked for product development between 2005 and 2008. This huge investment is made possible by Aprilia entering the Piaggio group early in 2005. Aprilia as a brand is safeguarded and strengthened by spearheading the group’s strategy towards the high end most competitive part of the motorcycle market.
The off road project has another two years to go and RXV and SXV are only the beginning. Already now a 250 to be raced in MX2 is under development and the range will be complemented by both smaller and larger displacements for less demanding off-road work. Aprilia is a motorcycle manufacturer that historically has raced what it sells. The MotoGP stunt that backfired caused a long brake from World Superbike racing, but Aprilia will be back with a new RSV-R to finish what was started in 1999 with some successes from Regis Laconi, Nori Haga and Troy Corser. Aprilia will be back in the WSB paddock in 2006 or 2007. If all goes Aprilia and Ducati’s way it will be on a 1200cc V-twin. In 125GP and 250GP more than every second bike is an Aprilia and the world’s greatest MotoGP champions all seem to have some of that Aprilia pedigree in them. KTM has entered both the 125 and 250GP classes and almost went away with the 125 championship this year. If KTM can do it in MotoGP Aprilia reckons they can do it in MX, Enduro and Supermoto. So all this in effect means that Aprilia are challenging KTM head on in all fields from the tarmac to the gravel all over the world. Aprilia will support 4 riders in the Supermotard world championship, 3 riders in the Enduro world championship and 1 rider in the MX1 motocross class. In 2006 the bikes will be developed on the race tracks.
Aprilia is with RXV and SXV hoping to gain shares in the huge US off-road market. Aprilia operated with figures of more than 400.000 motorcycles sold in the off-road segment alone worldwide and more than 50% of these in the US alone. Aprilia’s research also shows a 30% growth in the off-road sector between the years 2000-2004. This is why Aprilia started working on their V-twin prototypes in 2003.
Mariano Roman is the off-road project manager and he explained why the V77 configuration was chosen. First of all Aprilia wanted to create a unique bike in a market where 1-cylinder bikes has ruled for decades. Roman explained that the twin configuration is more reliable for competition use than a 1-cylinder. Aprilia has also been able to design the engine to weigh no more than a 1-cylinder engine of the same capacity whilst getting more performance that is easier to use. The fuel injected engine also gives the adjustability needed for the different terrain that both bikes will be facing. Roman further emphasised that Aprilia will build cross, enduro, off-road and supermoto motorcycles for road use and competition. The ambition is to gain a 6-8% market share. To do this Aprilia has invested 15 million Euro with another 30 million to be used for product development and racing in the 2006-2008 period. By the end of next year Aprilia will have a 100 man strong team working purely on off-road products.
Inside the V77 and chassis
Ampelio Macchi is the man responsible for bringing the V-twin to life. Macchi is an Aprilia man by heart and met the Piaggio take over with scepticism. Now that his ‘baby’ the V77 has been launched and he has all the support both financial and strategic to build exciting off-road engines he is a happy man. Macchi explained the engine was developed in three major stages. First stage was to find the ideal cylinder head and three different heads were tested before the final one was chosen. Second stage was to fit the best cam, sort the right radiator design and the thermo-dynamics. The third stage involved finalising the engine with magnesium covers and titanium valves. Macchi did not keep it secret how proud he is of the in-house developed engine. When questioned about the fact the RXV/SXV has only got one overhead cam Macchi responded the V77 is a naturally stable and well balanced solution and that there was no need to give him any further headaches with the ultra compact engine and chassis design by adding another overhead cam. Macchi continued by telling us that the frame was the most difficult to develop since it had to fit all the new parts. Size, weight, strength and style were the criteria. The shape of a diamond radiates ultimate strength and beauty and this is why the diamond shapes goes through the whole design from frame, swing, exhaust to the incredibly detailed whilst still minimalist fairing shapes. The front part of the frame is steel whilst the rear is aluminium. The swing-arm is made of aluminium type 7000 aeronautical alloy which makes the RXV/SXV the most solid off-road ever built. Due to the competitive nature of the new V-twin’s easy air-filter access was important too. Aprilia also claimed that a 1-cylinder bike is twice as noisy as their new twin. We asked Macchi whether the V2 he has designed would be suitable as a V4 as well. Macchi could only confirm that Aprilia already are testing four cylinder engines, but that this was not his area. We agree that a V4 off-road would be silly.
Aprilia
This man owns Piaggio, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and much more. His name is Roberto Colaninno and his past includes big business in Olivetti and Telecom Italia. Now he spends his money making life exciting for lovers of Italian motorcycles.
-Sold over 110.000 motorcycles and scooters in 2005, 10% more than 2004
-Will invest 100 million Euro and launch 20 new products over the next three years
-1.100 employees worldwide
-Part of the Piaggio group
-Only European manufacturer with a 50-1000cc motorcycle and scooter range
-Will take on the US off-road market
-Intends to compete head-on with KTM over off-road market shares
RXV/SXV will cost 9.200-9.500 Euro
2005/06 new models
RS 125
SXV 4.5/5.5 Supermotard
RXV 4.5/5.5 Enduro
Atlantic Sprint 500
Scarabeo 500
Pegaso 650 Strada
Pegaso 650 Trail
Caponord ETV 1000 (slight suspension and injection changes)
