TheHistoryOf.net

The History of Aprilia Motorcycles is a story of a small time bicycle manufacturer which grew to become the fourth-largest producer of motorcycles in the world. Aprilia is the only European manufacturer to produce a full line of motorcycles, from 50cc to 1000cc. Aprilia machines have won 45 world championship titles, and Aprilia sport and racing motorcycles are very popular in many levels of motorsport.

A Humble Beginning

Aprilia is a world-class company with small-town roots. The town of 15,000 people called Noale, in Italy, was first home to a bicycle factory that was founded just after the Second World War by Cavaliere Alberto Beggio. When the big Japanese motorcycle companies were clipping petrol-powered motors onto bicycles, with an eye towards the motorcycle market, Aprilia was still manufacturing plain bicycles with no intention of having anything to do with motorcycles.

That all changed in 1968, when Beggio’s son, Ivano Beggio, took over leadership of the company. His vision was to produce sport bikes that won races and put the Aprilia name on the map. Their first 50cc motorcycle, more of a moped, really, was produced shortly after Ivano Beggio took over, and Aprilia had 3 popular mopeds in the late 1960s.

In 1970, Aprilia’s first motocross bike, the Scarabeo, was born. As the Scarabeo started to attract attention, Aprilia focused on expanding its catalogue during the 70s and early 80s, adding many new models from 50cc to 600cc.

Aprilia first attracted attention on the world stage in 1977, when Italian riders won races at the Italian motocross Championship in both the 125cc and 250cc classes, while riding Aprilia machines. Aprilia motorcycles were finally winning the titles Ivano Beggio had always dreamed they would.

The recession of the 1980s caused a downturn for many motorcycles manufacturers, but Aprilia continued to expand its catalogue and offer new models. The popularity and success of Aprilia did not dip in the 1980s like that of many of its competitors. In 1985, Aprilia started outsourcing the production of engines for certain models. An Austrian company, called

Rotax, was the top choice, and Aprilia machines continued to win.

In the early 1990s, searching for innovation, Aprilia revisited its roots as a scooter company by producing the Amico, the first all-plastic scooter in Italy, which proved popular. Aprilia has also had much worldwide success since the early 1990s, winning 124 Grand Prix titles in the 125cc and 250cc classes. They also have 15 Road World Racing Championships under thier belt, and Aprilia machines also hold 16 European speed titles.  Aprilia was acquired by Piaggio, in 2004, making Piaggio, the fourth largest producer of motorcycles in the world.

A Name Recognized In The Racing Curcuit

The Aprilia name is likely not as well know to the average person, because Aprilia mainly specialises in sport and racing bikes rather than recreational motorcycles. Unlike the Japanese names Aprilia does not export a high volume of motorcycles, cars, or other vehicles to North America, and the Aprilia name is not often seen on the roads. Aprilia is, however, well known to motorcycle racing enthusiasts, who see it as the brand of choice for many riders.

About The Author:

Guest post submitted by Mark Jubbs. Visit Motorcycle Tyres Shop for information on Motorcycle Tyres for some of the larger Aprilia Motorcycles including the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa which is highly recommended for the Aprilia RSV4. His favorite hobby is restoring old motorcycles and his goal is to highlight what things to watch for, particularly with respect to safety, when purchasing motorcycle leather clothing and motorcycle luggage. You will also find advice on choosing between leather and textile plus heated motorcycle clothing, and how to keep your leathers in tip-top condition.