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The straight dope on Aprilla

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Hey guys I have a quick question.
I have 900 SS and I was at my Ducati dealer the other day and guy came in on an Aprilla. After he left, all the staff was cracking jokes about how Aprilla is in Italian scooter company and that this guys 1000 RS Factory was really a Japanese bike. They stated that the bike is made in Japan and shipped to and assembled in Italy. Is this true or are the shop guy just full of sh*t. If the bike is not made in Italy what parts are not???
Thanks in advance, Rudy
 
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Discussion Starter · #2 ·
The engine is Austrian.

The suspension is Ohlins, right? Which is Swedish, but the company is owned by Yamaha.

I have no idea about the rest of the parts.
 
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Discussion Starter · #3 ·
Re: The straight dope on Aprilla (Rudolph)

That would make me pretty proud to be an Apilia owner - if a Ducati tech/shop guy is cracking jokes about MY bike....

Hey, I love Ducati and it's first on my must-have list. But the priller is moving up. I can't answer your question on assembly vs parts construction. But if that's the reason they don't need a valve adjustment for 15 or 20 thousand miles and are built like tanks - maybe Ducati should too.
 
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Discussion Starter · #4 ·
Re: The straight dope on Aprilla (130gunner)

Where to begin.... first of all, your dealer is a complete idiot (Ducati/Harley Davidson per chance?).

Aprilia's are made in Noale, Italy - there was an extensive article in Raodracing World about a year ago on the factory... Rotax does make the RSV engine (Rotax is owned by Bombardier) and they only make engines - for personal watercraft, ultralight airplanes, flat track racers, formula series karts, and motorcycles. They are considered to be one of the top engine design and manufacturing companies on the planet... In fact, the BMW 650 engines were built by Rotax for several years - Aprilia, by the way built the rest of the bike for BMW during that period... Not a bad reference for either Rotax OR Aprilia... The RS 250 engines were built by Suzuki - to Aprilia specs.

Look over an Aprilia and you'll see many of the same names as on your Duc - Olins (or Showa) suspension, Brembo brakes/rotors, etc. Except the Aprilia brand is known for its outstanding reliability and build quality. Most owners rate its reliability at or even above Japanese bikes.

As for being a scooter company - yes, they were the #2 scooter company in the World, not a bad reference and now that Piaggio bought them (the #1 scooter company), they are even more a scooter company... And do some research to see how your Duc marque started out... Have you ever got up close to an Aprilia scooter - an outstanding product and on the track, many could easily pass you on your 900....

And yes, let's discuss the track - has anyone from your dealer ever heard of 125 or 250 Moto GP? There is an Aprilia on every podium on every race and for many years... People who have won World Championships on the 250 Aprilia??? Perhaps your dealer probably wouldn't recognize any of their names.... Rossi, Biaggi, Molandri...

I currently own both a 748S and a Mille.. I love my Duc - but my Priller is the best bike I have ever owned. Aprilia does have a major flaw - it lacks brand image here in the US... but personally, I see that a good thing as every poser and squid shys away from the brand... which really isn't a bad thing after all...
 
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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
I was, and still am seriously considering a Mille. Look at what's included in the package, and then look at the price. You seem to get a lot of bang for your buck with Aprilia. Ohlins, Brembo, nice engine, OZ wheels. I don't know why more people don't go for the Aprilia's.
 
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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
Re: The straight dope on Aprilla (Rudolph)

Rudy,

You were at Letko, correct? With that said the moron who made these comments must just be an errant tool who just happens to work for Letko. The guys over there have a STELLER reputation in this part of the country and I can't see the general concensus at that shop would be what you heard come out of this ignorant guys mouth.

As far as the scooter comments by the rogue employee go, well if you owned a large company that was barely, if at all, profitable, don't you think you would be happy that thousands of those relatively dorky scooters were rolling out the door and keeping your business afloat. Gross sales are gross sales to a businessman.
 
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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
Re: The straight dope on Aprilla (hank)

Very well said hank, I was torn between a RSV Factory and my 999 but in the end the I picked up the Duc. I found that alot of people were just idiots when it came to the rumors about Aprilia. I found a bunch of reading material from different magazines and talked to a local dealer (the only one in the state and a serious Moto Guzzi enthusiast) as well as a few owners and they loves their bikes maybe even more than some Ducati guys love theirs.

My cousin has an '04 Factory and there have been no quirks on the bike except that the fuel mapping sucks until you have the dealer switch it. There are a few bikes though that had problems with the odometers resetting for no apparent reason. Working on it does feel kind of Japanese though, but that's probably because the fairings on a Ducati use the quarter turn fasteners to take then off and the Aprilia takes more work.

I'd still get one, but after I'm done paying off the Ducati.
 
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Discussion Starter · #8 ·
Re: The straight dope on Aprilla (Rudolph)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rudolph »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> all the staff was cracking jokes about how Aprilla is in Italian scooter company and that this guys 1000 RS Factory was really a Japanese bike. </TD></TR></TABLE>

the guy is a moron!


i own a aprilia tuono and it has to be one of the best made bikes ever. that is no understatement by far. great build quality, reliable components, bullet proof engine what more could you want in a bike?
 
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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
went to my duc/aprilia only dealer two weeks ago and there were only a couple a prilia's on the floor....said there was factory shutdown and no new stock for months....there are ten million people in my state....three aprilia dealers....you do the math....
 
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Discussion Starter · #10 ·
Re: (slightly ducatic)

Buy it before May 31st, and you can get an 04 RSVR Factory for less than $16k. That gets you a STRONG AND RELIABLE motor, Ohlins front and rear, OZ wheels, ridiculously good after the purchase support (Aprilia loyalists are as rabid as anyone) - and the kicker?


You can get an Arrow or LeoV full racing system good for about 10 ponies for less than $2k, and it won't melt your bodywork.


So - someone tell me why I still, and will always, want a 749R?
 
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Discussion Starter · #11 ·
Re: (130gunner)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 130gunner »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Buy it before May 31st, and you can get an 04 RSVR Factory for less than $16k. That gets you a STRONG AND RELIABLE motor, Ohlins front and rear, OZ wheels, ridiculously good after the purchase support (Aprilia loyalists are as rabid as anyone) - and the kicker?


You can get an Arrow or LeoV full racing system good for about 10 ponies for less than $2k, and it won't melt your bodywork.


So - someone tell me why I still, and will always, want a 749R?</TD></TR></TABLE>

also if you race your aprilia i think you get 4000.00 off from aprilia. or something like that.
 
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Discussion Starter · #12 ·
Re: (oneducs)

Yeah, it's like $4k off at purchase and then you send in race results (doesn't matter how good, just that you raced 2 races) and then you get another 1500-2000 rebate. Pretty good program, and if you're going to race it anyway you can still sell off the stock bodywork and stuff. Only catch is that it can't be registered for street use, IIRC.
 
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Discussion Starter · #15 ·
Re: (oneducs)

Nope, and DNA doesn't require proof of racing and you can register it on the street. So basically, a racing license will get you a chunk of change off retail. Ducati's only catch - no warranty. Good mechanic and know your poop? Great deal. You pay somemone to do your oil changes? Not recommended.
 
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Discussion Starter · #16 ·
Slightly Ducatic - went to my duc/aprilia only dealer two weeks ago and there were only a couple a prilia's on the floor....said there was factory shutdown and no new stock for months....there are ten million people in my state....three aprilia dealers....you do the math....

Dude, you should get out more. Your dealer in Houston doesn't know anything. There was not a factory shutdown, my college rommmate works for Aprilia. I bet you could add up all the riding experience of all the sales people at your shop in Houston and it wouldn't add up to a year. Those sales guys are all squids. I do hear that Sebastian from New Orleans is working there now, at least he is a true enthusiest. There are more than 3 dealers in Tx. Try the dealer in Bryan/College Station. Their service manager raced an Aprilia last year in the CMRA. Have you been to a CMRA race lately? Check out how many Aprilia's are on the track versus Ducati's. Looks like DNA's plan worked...Let's create a racing program so our wanna be racers can easily buy and not have to race it so they can park it in their living room as art. I went to the races a few weeks ago in Hallett, OK and saw 5 Aprilia's and 1 Ducati. I hear that at the next race there will be an additional Aprilia, making it 6. Not bad for a club race.

You really should get out more.......
 
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Discussion Starter · #19 ·
Re: (Tornado-rider)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tornado-rider »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">trussdude,
Please explain Ducatis race program.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you have a race licence you can get any Ducati Superbike or Supersport at a 15% discount. No catch aside from the bike doesn't have a warranty.

Now if they knocked 30% off and kept the bodywork, lights, tires, rearsets, bars, etc we would realy have a racer program
 
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