NSF100 Honda Superbike

Big surprises come in small packages. Blending MotoGP styling with the Honda's ultra reliable four-stroke power, this NSF100 has on dominant goal: showing aspiring young racers the quickest path to the podium. But don't be surprised if you see veteran road racers or cross-over off-roaders dicing it up on this HRC-developed machine during local track days. It's that much fun. Note: Red Wing graphic not included.

Source: http://powersports.honda.com

Honda Superbike - CBR1000RR

Meet the CBR1000RR, the open-class sportbike that's redefined Honda's Superbike legacy from the moment it touched down last season. Boasting MotoGP-winning, RC211V-derived chassis and suspension technology, the 2005 CBR1000RR is poised to pick up right where it left off last year: rewriting the annals of open-class inline-four performance.

Source : http://powersports.honda.com

Aprilia RSV 1000 R Racing Bike

Racing Bike

The RSV 1000 R is more of a true supersport than any other bike. Its individual character, its advanced engine and frame technology, and its original, aggressive, yet elegant and typically Italian styling establish it in a class of its own. The RSV’s V twin engine delivers unbelievable power that can be used to the full with total confidence. In the right hands, the RSV is the fastest and most aggressive of all supersports on the road, and even more so on the track.The competition comes and goes, but the Aprilia RSV 1000 R remains the world’s best supersport on road and track alike.

This is the bike the others can only hope to match. The RSV 1000 R has clearly demonstrated its true colours in the World Endurance Championship, where it has been the only production twin to achieve amazing results among so many four cylinder machines. In legendary races like the Suzuka 8 hours and massacring endurance trials like the Oschersleben 24 hours, the RSV 1000 R has proved to the world that it can out-perform the best and still remain totally reliable. Top level racing has been an unforgettable experience for all involved, but has also served as a fantastic ‘test bench’ for the new racing solutions that are already appearing on Aprilia’s production bikes.

Every aspect of the MY 2006 Aprilia RSV 1000 R has been improved, from the engine to the chassis and fairing. An RSV becomes an integral part of its rider’s body. The footrests and handlebars are positioned to promote 100% active control. The sitting position leaves you totally free to move as you feel. As a result, riding an RSV 1000 R is physically and mentally more relaxing than riding any motorcycle of the competition.

The RSV 1000 R is a supersport for the expert, and is always in the lead – especially on the race track! Its amazing performance does not rely on horsepower alone, but is the result of a complete engine-frame-suspension-brakes package that delivers an unbeatably smooth ride. Total usability and easy control have always been features of the Aprilia RSV, and winning characteristics in Moto GP too.

Source : http://www.apriliausa.com

NEW RS 125, THE SCHOOL OF CHAMPIONS

Aprilia’s know-how and technology have always led the way in the world of 125 supersports. Aprilia has regularly topped the sales tables with bikes that inspire young riders with the passion not only to dream, but to compete. The machine that symbolises Aprilia’s supremacy in the 125 market is now back, completely renewed in style and technology.

The latest RS 125 is more supersport than ever, and is not going to be beaten easily. It has all the cutting edge technology, style solutions and aerodynamics of a real GP racer, and is totally unrivalled when it comes to developing your passion and skill, on the road and on the track. The new RS 125 is today’s bike for tomorrow’s champions.

NEW RS 125, RACING TECHNOLOGY

1. POWER AND RELIABILITY

The liquid cooled, single cylinder, two-stroke RS125 is the technical reference point for all other 125 cc supersports. Derived directly from Aprilia’s experience on the world’s GP racetracks, the RS 125 is totally reliable on the road and aggressively powerful on the track, thanks to advanced technology like crankcase reed valve induction and a vibration damping counter-shaft. The RS 125 is even homologated to Euro 2 standards, because performance and respect for the environment really can go hand in hand.

2. RACE-WINNING AGILITY

The RS 125’s sophisticated and lightweight frame is developed from the superb racing frames of Aprilia’s amazing 125 GP bikes. It is made from polished aluminium alloy, guarantees extremely high torsional rigidity, and delivers maximum control and agility under racing conditions.

3. COMFORT AND SAFETY

The upside down fork has been completely re-designed, as has the rising rate rear suspension. The result is performance, safety, and an impressive level of comfort in daily commuting as in racetrack use. The brakes are completely new too and represent the pinnacle of world production. At the front, the RS 125 boasts a four-piston, radial caliper front brake with aeronautical metal braided brake hose and a 320 mm floating disc. The 220 mm rear disc unit also features aeronautical metal braided hose for precise, balanced and powerful, GP style braking.

4. RACING WHEELS

The ‘Y’ spoke alloy wheels have six spokes at the front and five at the rear. These low weight, high strength wheels are fitted with tubeless radial tyres for unrivalled agility with guaranteed road-holding under all conditions.

5. GP SWINGARM

One of the most prestige components on the new RS 125 is its die-cast aluminium alloy swingarm. In addition to guaranteeing the highest degree of torsional rigidity of any production 125, the swingarm’s special design also lets you lean further than ever without touching the asphalt.

6. ADVANCED AERODYNAMICS

Aggressive, streamlined, and breathtakingly beautiful, the new RS 125 is born to win. Its styling is the result of advanced research into aerodynamics and extensive wind tunnel testing. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the RS 125 affords excellent wind protection, and minimum air resistance. Everything about it is made for speed, from the latest generation, twin headlight nose fairing to the tail, with its aggressive, streamlined, integrated seat and powerful rear light cluster.

7. RACING INSTRUMENTATION

The compact and lightweight new instruments incorporate all the functions of a real racing unit, including an analog rev counter and a multi-functional digital display with handlebar controls to operate the tachometer, trip counter, battery voltage meter, clock and 20 lap timer, coolant temperature gauge and fuel reserve indicator.

Photographs, technical data, specifications and colours refer to the Italian market version and may be subject to change without prior notice

Source : http://www.aprilia.com

Racing

Despite being a relatively small company by global motorcycling standards, Aprilia is very active in motorcycle racing. It contests many formulae, including the FIM 125 cc World Championship, the FIM 250cc World Championship, the now-defunct FIM 500cc World Championship, and from 2002-2004 the FIM MotoGP World Championship.

Aprilia Racing saw varying successes. They were extremely successful in the smaller displacement categories, winning numerous races & championships in the 125 cc Grand Prix and 250 cc Grand Prix classes. However, their 500 cc Grand Prix bike was less competitive, and their MotoGP effort - dubbed the RS3 - was technically advanced but difficult to ride and performed poorly in the championship. The RS3 did, however, feature many advanced technologies either not seen or only being seen now in other MotoGP bikes - technologies including fly by wire throttle and pneumatic valve actuation systems.

Aprilia also feature in the off-road racing world, with their 450cc V-Twin motocrosser producing respectable results (including race wins) in both off-road (Motocross) and on-road (Supermoto) categories.

The company is also notable for choosing somewhat atypical engine configurations. For example, they progressed with development of a V-Twin 500 cc Grand Prix bike when other teams were moving to V-Four configurations for what some believed was better & more usable power outputs. Aprilia continued this trend, taking advantage of lighter minimum weights with the introduction of their RS3 MotoGP bike - featuring three cylinders in an Inline triple layout, the bike had the least number of cylinders on the Grand Prix paddock. Yamaha had gone ahead with an inline four layout, whilst Suzuki and Ducati went for (differently-designed) V-Four layouts. Honda took the idea even further, producing the championship-winning RC211V, powered by a V5 cylinder engine.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org

Aprilia

An Aprilia RS250, model of 1997.

Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle company, owned by Piaggio as part of the worlds fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer.Aprilia started as a scooter manufacturer, but has more recently come to be known for its race-winning sportsbikes. It is most recently best known for its flagship 1000 cc V-Twin Superbike, the RSV Mille.

History

Aprilia was founded immediately after the Second World War by Cavaliere Alberto Beggio, as a bicycle production factory at Noale, Italy in the province of Venice.

Alberto’s son, Ivano Beggio, took over the helm of the company in 1968 and he constructed a 50 cc "motorcycle" with a dozen or so collaborators. The first production Aprilia mopeds were named Colibrì, Daniela and Packi. Aprilia later produced a motocross bike in 1970 called the Scarabeo. Produced until the end of the 1970s, the Scarabeo came in 50 and 125 cc versions.

In 1977 Ivan Alborghetti from Milan, Italy won the Italian 125 and 250 cc motorcross championships on Aprilias. In 1978 Alborghetti closed the season with two third places in individual races and sixth place in the World Championship.

In the 1980s Aprilia added enduro, trials and road bikes of between 50 and 600 cc. In 1981 Aprilia introduced the TL320 trials machine. In 1983 Aprilia launched to St 125 road bike. In 1984 Aprilia launched an improved model called STX, and an enduro, called the ET 50.

In 1985, Aprilia started outsourcing engines for some models to the Austrian company Rotax. In 1985 Aprilia launched a 125 STX and 350 STX. In 1986 Aprilia launched the AF1; a small sports model, and the Tuareg; a large tanked bike for African rallies. Aprilia rider Philippe Berlatier contended for the trials world championship reaching fifth place, and Loris Reggiani rode an Aprilia GP 250 with Rotax engine to sixth place in the road racing World Championship. Two seasons later, on August 30, 1987, at San Marino Grand Prix in Misano Loris Reggiani’s AF1 won the first World Speed Championship.

Source :From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org

Group ZXR picture

See-through Evolution of the ZXR range

These Pictures are from RiDE magazine and very interesting. They are great for showing up the differences and similarities between the main models of the whole ZXR range. The "Large" image allows you to see more detail.