Back in 1945, Alberto Beggio founded Aprilia as a bicycle manufacturer shortly after the end of World War II. An Aprilia bike has even been made in recent years with electric assist. It wasn’t until the late 60s, when Beggio’s son Ivano took over, that the Aprilia factory began revving into racing history producing the company’s first 50cc motobike.
The 70s and 80s saw a substantial period of acclaim and innovation for Aprilia with back-to-back titles in the 1977 Italian Motocross Championship and the introduction of new designs including the AF1 and Taureg bikes in 1986. The AF1 snagged the win in the first World Speed Championship one year later. In 1995, Aprilia garnered praise off the track when the Motò was displayed at the New York Museum of Modern Art.
In 2004, the Piaggio Group acquired Aprilia. Today, you’ll find a variety of styles from Aprilia dealers to fit just about every rider. Aprilia scooters include the stylish Scarabeo which boasts engine sizes of 100cc up to 500cc. Additional scooters can be found under such exciting names as the SR, known as a scooter ridden by many racers and the Sport City. Road models like the RS 125 and Aprilia R (Racing) bikes have been making their mark on the track. These bikes have excellent handing characteristics with an engine designed to outperform all others. Aprilia USA has recently introduced the RSV4 line, a motorcycle inspired from racing heritage but can be ridden on the street.The company also makes a line of rugged terrain bikes like the RXV and the MVX which have evolved into serious off-road motorcycles. For the supermotard rider there is the SVX, the first twin cylinder type machine.
Over the years, Aprilia has claimed many titles establishing itself as an industry leader and ensuring its foothold in racing history. Today, the company has come into its own with bikes that combine technical prowess with contemporary, aesthetic design.
