Aprilia is a motorcycle brand that is known for making motorcycles par excellence. The evolution of the company amongst all hardships is a lesson for all and is a gentle reminder of how resilience and adaptability can lead to the revival of a company.
The systematic evolution of the company is so sophisticated that Aprilia today does not resemble the manufacturer it began production as. The interesting history of the bike builder is full of up and downs, the company has undergone changes in the past years that not many are aware of.
In their quest for engineering purity the company has provided fans with great results. Here is a list of 15 interesting facts regarding the motorcycle manufacturer, that we are sure you were not aware of.
15 Alberto Beggio Founded The Company
Fans of the motorcycle company to this date cannot believe that Alberto Beggio founded the company right after the Second World War. Noale, a town in Italy was the first place to host the first factory of the company. Little did one know that a small town in Italy would play such a significant role in shaping the history of the automobile industry?
14 The Company Initially Made Bicycles
This will surprise many but Aprilia started off by making bicycles. The success and fame the venture brought them over the years allowed them to explore different arenas, including that of manufacturing scooters. The company progressed over the years to include motorcycles in its arsenal.
13 The Company Made Its First Motocross Bike In 1970
After working on mopeds for two years Aprilia decided to expand its range by exploring the production of motocross bikes. The first model was called the Scarabeo, the company manufactured the racer till the end of the '70s. There were different forms of racers which included the 50cc and 125cc.
12 The First Motorcycle Was Made In 1968
Ivano Beggio, Alberto Beggio's child took over the company and signaled the launch of the first Aprilia motorcycle. The first motorcycle was a 50cc bike which required 12 people's collaboration for production. The first motorcycle was a moped, as it took a little time to conceive the popular racing bikes we have today.
11 Aprilia Is Subsidiary Of Piaggio
Not many owners of Aprilia are aware that the company is a subsidiary of Piaggio. The parent company gives the motorcycle company the financial breathing space it requires. Now Aprilia can accomplish innovations and continue the stream of improvements synonymous to their name.
10 Creators Of A World Record
The motorcycle brand won 294 Grand Prix races overall, establishing a record for getting the most wins amongst all manufacturers in Europe.
Collectively, the bikes ended up winning 54 titles by the end of 2013, as they continue their upsurge during the Supermoto and Motorcross. Fans and critics around the world are impressed by the overall performance of the brand.
9 Aprilia 125 Won Its First Race In 1988
Years of racing gave Aprilia the experience they were looking for. Slowly and gradually the motorbike started winning races. The brand entered the 125 class during a race in the French Grand Prix, earning its first podium in 1988. After the win, the company never looked back.
8 Eyes Of The World
Like other top brands in the world, Aprilia made the famous SR150 which became a special model designed explicitly for the huge market in India. The price tag of the model was considerably lower and it was backed by the excellent build and the classy design of the model.
7 Inspiration For All
Although the Aprilia was a major hit, the company realized that they could do much better. This is why the engineers went back to the drawing board to construct a state of the art design feature, renaming it RS250V. The sensational motorbike created an explosion of enthusiasm amongst audiences that is unmatched in history.
6 The US Market
While the world was enjoying the sensation of driving the Aprilia bikes, the US was still unchartered territory for the company. The breakthrough finally came in 1988, when the US began importing the brand. The different varieties of bikes later became a hit on US shores.
5 Urban Mobility Market
Since its formation, Aprilia knew that slow and steady was the name of the game. After much thought, Aprilia broke the conventions of the time and entered the urban mobility market. The company launched Amico a plastic scooter, which became an instant hit with the urban masses.
4 Superbike Championship
Aprilia joined the World Superbike Championship in 1999 with the creation of a special version of the RSV Mille. They finished third in the riders championship race in 2000, they also finished third in manufacturers' points in the same race. Aprilia retired from the series after the completion of the season.
3 Unique Racing Strategy
The company is renowned for choosing a different engine combination for big races. When other teams preferred using V-4 configurations, Aprilia progressed with a V-twin 500cc. The company took advantage of the lighter weights with the help of the RS Cube MotoGP bike.
2 SuperMoto
Aprilia made a debut in the SuperMoto world championship during the race of 2004. Since its step in the SuperMoto world, the company has won many titles in both the S1 and S2 categories. Jerome Giraudo won the S2 class in 2011, while Adrien Chareyere won the S1 in 2011.
1 Evolutionary Result
Seeing the company grow in incremental steps, is nothing short of inspiring. The evolution process of the company has been slow and steady yet effective. Today, it is a leader of the motorcycle racing industry, producing world-class bikes racing in different circuits around the globe.