The History Of Aprilia Dirt Bikes - Specs On The 09 Models The history of Aprilia dirt bikes dates right back to 1945 when it began as a bicycle manufacturer in a wee place called Noale in Italy. Alberto Beggio was the man with the plan responsible for founding the company. After a couple of decades of producing bicycles, Alberto's son Ivano Beggio must have got a little tired of pedaling to work, so he took control of the company and introduced their first motorcycles to the market. Two 50cc mopeds called 'Colibri' and 'Daniela' were the first bikes to come out around 1968. But it was the 1970, 50 cc 'Scarabeo' motocrosser that helped kick-start a new era of Aprilia dirt bikes.
In 2004 one of the worlds largest motorcycle manufacturers, the Piaggio Group, bought out Aprilia for a few bucks (meaning Ivano definitely doesn't have to cycle to work any more!). So Aprilia motorcycles now rests comfortably under the same umbrella as other major motorcycle brands such as Vespa, Moto Guzzi, Derbi and Gilera. Never afraid to venture outside the square, Aprilia have produced a 450cc, V2 powered enduro and motocross bike that has already claimed victories in both motocross and supermoto. In 2008, riding on an Aprilia RXV 450, Nicholas Pagonon became the first person to finish the Erzberg Rodeo (a hardcore enduro race held in Austria) on a twin cylinder dirt bike, finishing 12th overall. So although Aprilia's recognition resides mostly with their successful and prestigious range of on-road/super-bikes, they do produce a handful of high performance European dirt bikes that are constantly being refined. Let's take a look at them now... 2009 Aprilia Dirt Bikes
Model: MXV 4.5 Engine Type: 77° V twin four stroke. Liquid cooled. Single overhead cam with rocker operated exhaust valves, chain timing drive, 4 valve heads, titanium valves Displacement: 449 cm3 Bore Stroke: 76 x 49.5 mm Compression Ratio: 13 :1 Fuel System: Integrated engine management system controlling ignition and fuel injection Throttle body: 338 mm. Hard and soft mappings selectable from the handlebars Ignition: Electronic digital (batteryless) Starting System: Kick-start Transmission: 4 speed Fuel: Lead-free petrol Exhaust: Conforming to FIM standards for 2009 Generator: 220 W Lubrication: Dry sump. Separate gearbox lubrication Clutch: Multi-plate in oil bath, cable operated Primary Drive: Spur gears. Transmission ratio: 23/65 Final Drive: Chain. Transmission ratio: 14/49 Frame Type: Cr-Mo steel perimeter frame with aluminium alloy vertical members. Headstock rake angle 26.2°. Lightweight rear frame section Suspension Front: 50 mm Marzocchi upside down fork with adjustments for compression and rebound Suspension Rear: Pro-Link with Sachs monoshock, adjustable in compression and rebound Front Wheel: Black anodised aluminium alloy - 1.60 x 21” Rear Wheel: Black anodised aluminium alloy - 2.15 x 19" Front Tire Size: Dunlop 80/100-21 51M Rear Tire Size: Dunlop 110/90-19 62M Front Brakes: 270 mm lightweight stainless steel floating disc with Nissin floating caliper Rear Brakes: 240 mm lightweight stainless steel disc with Nissin floating caliper Overall Length: 2,190 mm Overall Width: 815 mm Fuel Tank Capacity: 7.4 litres Seat Height: 960 mm Wheelbase: 1,499 mm Color: Red & Black
Model: RXV 4.5 - 5.5 Engine Type: 77° V twin four stroke. Liquid cooled. Single overhead cam with rocker operated exhaust valves, chain timing drive. 4 valve heads with titanium valves Fuel System: Integrated electronic engine management system controlling ignition and fuel injection, with two power mappings Ignition: Electronic Starting System: Electric starting Transmission: 5 speed Fuel: Lead-free petrol Throttle Body: 38 mm (40 mm) Exhaust: Euro 3 lateral exhaust. Conforms to FIM regulations for 2009 Generator: 340 W Lubrication: Dry sump with external oil tank. Separate gearbox lubrication Clutch: Cable operated multi-plate wet clutch Primary Drive: Spur gears. Transmission ratio: 22/56 Final Drive: Chain. Transmission ratio: 15/50 (Z14 sprocket supplied) Primary Drive: Spur gears. Transmission ratio: 23/65 Frame Type: Chrome-molybdenum steel perimeter frame with aluminium alloy vertical members. Steering head (rake) angle 27°. Lightweight rear frame Suspension Front: Ø 45 mm upside down fork with two adjustments Suspension Rear: Aluminium swingarm with cast body and hydroformed members. Hydraulic monoshock with compression and rebound adjustment Front Wheel: Black anodized aluminium alloy - 1.60 x 21” Rear Wheel: Black anodized aluminium alloy - 2.15 x 18" Front Tire Size: Metzeler 90/90 x 21” Rear Tire Size: Metzeler 140/80 x 18” Front Brakes: Ø 270 mm floating disc in stainless steel with aluminium flange. Nissin floating caliper Rear Brakes: 240 mm stainless steel disc with floating caliper Overall Length: 2,222 mm Overall Width: 800 mm Fuel Tank Capacity: 7.8 litres Seat Height: 941 mm Wheelbase: 1,495 mm Color: Red & Black
Model: RX 125 Engine Type: Rotax 122 single cylinder 2-stroke. Aluminium cylinder with Nikasil liner Bore x Stroke: 54mm 54.5mm Total Displacement: 124.8cc Cooling: Liquid cooled Compression Ratio: 12.5:1 Maximum Power At The Crank: 11 kW and 16 kW Maximum Torque At The Crank: 12.2 Nm @ 8000 rpm (11 kW); 16 Nm @ 9750 rpm (16 kW) Fuel System: Dell'Orto VHST 28 carburettor Ignition: Electronic CDI ignition Starting System: Kick start Transmission: 6 speed Fuel: Unleaded petrol Lubrication: Separate mixing with variable displacement, volumetric pump Clutch: Multi-plate wet clutch Generator: 12V-180W Primary Drive: Helical gears. Ratio: 19/63 Final Drive: Chain. Z 16 gearbox pinion, Z 45 rear wheel sprocket (11 kW); Z 15 gearbox pinion, Z 45 rear wheel sprocket (16 kW) Frame Type: High strength steel frame with double trellis beam and double cradle. Detachable seat frame Suspension Front: 40 mm upside down hydraulic fork. Wheel travel 260 mm Suspension Rear: Steel swingarm. Hydraulic monoshock with piggy back cylinder. Wheel travel 270 mm Front Brakes: Front brake 260 mm disc. Floating caliper with two parallel pistons Rear Brakes: 220 mm disc. Floating caliper with single piston Front Wheel: Front wheel Aluminium, 1.6 x 21” Rear Wheel: Rear wheel Aluminium, 2.15 x 18” Front Tire Size: Front tyre Pirelli MT21, 90/90 x 21” Rear Tire Size: Pirelli MT21, 120/90 x 18” Overall Length: 2255 mm Overall Width: (at brake levers) 850 mm Overall Height: (at mirrors) 1,415 mm Seat Height: 925 mm Wheelbase: 1480 mm Dry Weight: 116Kg Fuel Tank Capacity: 10 litres (including 1.3 litres reserve) Maximum speed: 115 kph (11 kW); 120 kph (16 kW) Color: Off White
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The 70's saw Aprilia dirt bikes making their stand in the Italian and World Motocross Championships. And although they achieved some success with their motocross and enduro bikes back then, they haven't progressed as strongly as the other major dirt bike brands in the off-road scene. Though in saying that, recently in 2008, legend Stefan Merriman won the Italian Enduro Championship on an Aprilia RXV 550 sending out a message that Aprilia means business!
Engine Type: Liquid cooled, single cylinder two stroke with light alloy cylinder
Bore x Stroke: 39.88 x 40 mm
Total Displacement: 49.9 cc
Fuel: Lead-free petrol
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1
Ignition: Electronic C.D.I
Starting System: Kick start
Exhaust: Catalytic converter
Generator: 85 W (120 W optional)
Fuel System: Dell'Orto PVHA 17.5 carburettor Fuel shut-off on tank
Lubrication: Automatic mixer
Transmission: 6 speed
Clutch: Multi-plate
Primary Drive: Gears. Ratio: 21/78
Final Drive: Chain. Ratio: 11/53
Frame Type: Steel beam
Suspension Front: 40 mm hydraulic fork with leading axle, wheel travel 195 mm
Suspension Rear: High strength steel swingarm; hydraulic monoshock; wheel travel 180 mm
Front Brakes: 260 mm stainless steel disc; floating caliper
Rear Brakes: 180 mm stainless steel disc; caliper with two opposing pistons
Front Wheel: Spoked wheels with aluminium rim - 1.85 x 21”
Rear Wheel: Spoked wheels with aluminium rim - 2.15 x 18”
Front Tire Size: 90/90 - 21”
Rear Tire Size: 110/80 -18”
Overall Length: 2100 mm
Overall Width: 825 mm
Seat Height: 880 mm
Wheelbase: 1412 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity: 7 litres
Color: Off White & Red & Black
If you are interested in the full range of Aprilia Dirt Bikes check out
www.apriliausa.com
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