Alberto’s son Ivano inherited control of the company in 1968 and began manufacturing motorcycles. The Colibri and Daniela were the company’s first moped models.
It is said that Ivano’s dream was to build race-worthy motocross machines. The dream started to come true with the 1974 model, which was ridden by Maurizio Sgarzan in the cadet class.
The 1975 model is considered the first one to have real hopes for racing success. Within three years, the titles started coming in and the company’s reputation spread worldwide.
There was a big fall in the popularity of two-wheel vehicles in the 1980s. But, Aprilia continued to do well. The first racing team was created in 1985 and spawned many recent world champions.
Aprilia hit the market with a bang in the 1990s. The first “all-plastic” scooter was introduced by the company in 1990. It was called the Amico.
The Scarabeo line is one of their most famous. The designs are creative and unique. They are considered more “sporty” than other scooter styles. With engines ranging from 50 to 500 cc, the models seem to cover the gamut for speed, performance and power.
Other popular models include the Sport-City line and the SR50 R and Street. The sports oriented suspension and tires make the SR50 Aprilia look less like mopeds and more like racing bikes.
In fact, the SR50 power output is too high to allow it to be classified as a “scooter” under laws in the United Kingdom. It earns the classification of “motorcycle”. Despite that, it is lightweight and much easier to handle than full-size bikes.
In the US, the SR50 and similar models are classified as mopeds. Generally speaking, no motorcycle license is required for operation. But, mechanical restrictions are required for importation, limiting the maximum speed to 48 km/hour.
Aprilia are fuel efficient options for getting around. They’re also a lot of fun to ride.