Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126997
, It 's a long ti me si nce I rode a G P b ik e that wa s so o bviously the uncomprom ising result of u nr elen t· . ing development to suit th e needs of ne particular rider. That Do lp h van er Woude a nd hi s team did their wo rk to near-perfection can be seen . in th e results of the 1987 Wo rld Championship; th ere in si xth p lace aga in is Loris Reggian i (Ap rilia ), in h onor of which he d onned the number six for o ur Calafat test. For 1988, April ia will be making a well -publicized bat ch of at least 40 Reggia n i Repl icas, identical copies o f th e machine I tested, of which the p roduction of th e first 30 is a lrea dy underw ay in the Noal e facto ry, for del ivery in J a nua ry at a cos t of 25 million lire eac h, pl us spares kits if yo u want it. Mich ele Verrin i says th ey already have deposits for th ese bikes, from a var iety of co u n tries and including some famou s n am es , while th e remain ing 10 will be built in a seco nd ba tch a fter Chri stmas for sal e lat er in th e close seaso n. . I assu me n one of those who've put their m oney down is taller th an 5' 9" or so, otherwise the y're goi ng to have to co ntem pla te surgery to be ab le to fit on the bike comfortably - I was abo ut to include G us tl Auinger in tha t remark, ti ll I rem embered how he ma naged to tu ck h imself away o n a little I 25cc twin ! - bu t in all other resp ects th e Ap ri lia AF I h as to be th e choice for th e priva teer in 1988, even m ore so tha n th e RS250 Honda which I h ave a lrea dy sam p led. T he proof is in th e '87 resu lts sheets; all . yo u have to do to em u la te Loris Reggiani is ride lik e he do es - which is far from easy or even possible for most o f th e rest o f usl - an d be prepared for so me exha us tive testin g to set th e bike up properl y. If yo u d o, the poten tial is undoubtedly th ere: I ca n see now after ri d in g it just how th is bik e hel ped Loris ge t o n terms an d even bea t th e J a panese • factory teams. Clout By The Numbers Successfully redirected federal funding from helmet blackmail to support of rider education , improved licensing. Successfully fought proposed noise regulations that would have SUbstantially increased the cost of motorcycles. Sued to keep public streets open to motorcycles in St. Louis and other cities. Influenced dozens of National Forest Plans to keep recreational opportunities open to motorcycles. . type Water-cooled. rotary-valve. two-stroke. pneumatic power,valve. " tandem-twin Bore x Stroke 54.0x54.5mm Displacement 249cc Compression ratio 14:1 Carburetor ... 2x38mm Dell'orto Horsepower . .'. , . . •. . 75 bhp @ 12,800 rpm Ignition .. ....•. Rotax electronic digital COl Transmission six.,speed. . . extractable Clutch • . • . . • .. . Dry. multi-plate (5 fiber / 6 steel) Chassis .... Fabricated twin-spar frame in CarbentaJ alloy Rake ; :; . .. • : ., .'. . 23.5° Front suspension .. . . Marzocchi M 1 R, telescopic fork r Fork tube diameter . . . . 41.7mm , Rear suspension .. : .• Rising rate . single Ohlins shock. aluminum swingarm Front brakes Dual 280mm Brembo discs. four- piston calipers Rear brakes . . ... Single 240mm Brembo disc, two-piston calipers Front tire/wheel , .. . . 12/60-17 in .• Michelin radiall3.5 in. Technomagnesio Rear tire/wheel . .. . . 15 /62-17 in.• Michelin rad ial /4.0 in . Technomagneslo 209.4 Ibs. wet Weight _ . (oil 1 water) Weight distribution . .. . 55 /45% . Wh~lbase 5 3 .1 ,n. Top a'peed : 155 mph Worked to defeat unreasonable emission standards that would have abolished motorcycles as we know them. No other organization in America does so much to keep you riding, and no other has so much clout on behalf of motorcyclists. The victories have been many, but the challenges continue. Major cities still try to ban motorcycles. Several states want to ban recreational riding for minors. The Insurance Institute has launched a national media assault against motorcyc les. And the list goes on. Your AMA membership gives you great benefits and you get clout. But it also makes clout. Join today and get a free "AMA Clout" button. Because there's strength in numbers. Aprilia 'AF1250 . Engine Influenced BlM decisions and , organized opposition to Cranston's SB-7. Helping keep the desert open for everyone . Successfully opposed efforts to ban superbikes . Rechanneled senate interests toward better . licensing and rider education. 1·800·AMA·JOIN Ohio 1·800·AMA·4567 American Motorcyclist Association P.O. Box 6114 Westerville, OH 43081-6114 The 3" "AMA Clout" button is FREE with all new memberships. RACING SPROCKETS 7075·T6 Hard anodized alloy makes the HARDENED "BLACKLOY"® rear sprockets the toughest sprockets money can buy. . PROVE IT YOURSELF Out wears all others GUARANTEED Any standard 7075-T6 sprocket can be at your dealers shop in 3 days , they can get i t fastest from SPROCKET . -SPECIALISTS EVlElfJ/ TiMIE ON TIMIE Dobbins. CA 95935