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/128136
2001 Bologna Motor Show Aprilla's new RSV Mille Tuono stole the show in Bologna, Italy - a naked Aprilla Mille. The Tuono employs an upright seating position, but the same level of engine tuning and the identical chassis of its Mille sibling. By which Aprilia has until now strangely ALAN CATHCART If? he 2001 edition of the annual U Bologna Motor Show - which each year attracts in excess of half a million visitors from all over Europe to view the huge display of cars and bikes, and attend the stadium races held in the show's parking lot opened on December 7 in Ducati's home city, only for the home team to be comprehensively upstaged by its Venetian rivals from 100 miles farther north - Aprilia. For in addition to the company's eagerly-awaited RS3 MotoGP racer, whose three-cylinder four-stroke engine was designed in conjunction with Britain's Formula One experts Cosworth (see separate item), Aprilia also countered rumors of its economic difficulties in the wake of the collapse of the small-capacity scooter market in Europe with a bravura display of new street products. In addition to the updated 2002 versions of his company's existing range, Aprilia owner Iva no Beggio unveiled two new models powered by the firm's 998cc 60-degree V-twin engine, which Aprilia has now taken with some artistic license - to describing as a '990 V2', to denote its forthcoming involvement in the 990cc four-stroke MotoGP category. The two new models are targeted at opposite ends of the flourishing large-capacity Naked-bike market, 18 JANUARY 9.2002' "" U "" .... ignored - apart from the abortive grounds that it wasn't sufficiently individual compared to its Monster/Rap- Falco-based Fighter which was sup- tor/Speed Triple/Buell S 1, etc. rivals. posed to have been displayed on the The RSV Mille Tuono launched at company's stand at the Milan Show in Bologna seeks to redress that, based September, before Beggio cancelled as it is on Aprilia's highest-perfor- its appearance reputedly on the mance volume-production V-twin, the RSV Mille R, shorn of its bodywork but retaining the same level of engine tuning and an identical chassis, fitted with Ohlins suspension. The Tuono, however, employs a much more upright riding position with a new one-piece high-rise handlebar, and is replete with carbon-fiber components, ranging from the small winddeflector headlamp surround, through the chin fairing under the engine and both mudguards, to the side-panels incorporating the air intakes for the Nippondenso EFI. The high-end street-rod also incorporates many titanium and Kevlar parts, and will be built as an individually-numbered limited edition at a price of about $16,500 when production begins next year - though it's not hard to envisage a less costly version devoid of carbon fiber and fitted with more humble suspension and brake packages, targeted directly at the Ducati 54 Monster. The entry into production of Aprilia's other new V-twin shown at Bologna has still yet to be confirmed, but the potentially more affordable ETVIOOO Mana perhaps has a wider potential worldwide market than the Tuono. Closely based on the Caponord tarmac trailbike, the Mana targets the same more mature sportrider as the Yamaha BTl I 00 Bulldog, though the choice of the Maori word meaning 'force of nature' as the model's nametag is not perhaps meant to refer to the aging process. The Mana uses the same aluminum twin-spar frame as the Caponord, but with larger 320mm Brembo front brakes, fitted with the same lower-performance version of the 60-degree V-twin engine tuned to Another new motorcycle making its debut at the Bologna Show was the Malagutl Super Climber 600 - inspired by the Ducat! 450 Scrambler built some 30 years ago. n ... _ s