The last Aprilia I saw in these colors for sale was listed as a “Rossi Replica,” but this particular paintjob in fact marked the Loris Reggiani replica RS250. Reggiani raced for Aprilia from 1985 through 1995 in the 250 and 500cc classes, the latter on a bored-out 380cc v-twin intended to compete based on its exceptionally light weight. It wasn’t completely successful, but Loris was still able to place 10th the year he retired, not a bad result against 500cc machines.
The roadgoing RS250 was, of course, powered by a 249cc liquid-cooled two-stroke v-twin that was originally found in Suzuki’s RGV250. With just 300lbs dry for it’s 60hp to push around, the bike was very quick for its displacement, with plenty of racing-inspired touches: a beautiful beam frame and assymetrical swingarm that allowed for serious lean, the same gold-line Brembo brakes used on Ducatis of the period, bikes that weighed 100lbs more, meaning these bikes have some serious stopping power to go with their superlative handling.
As Lotus founder Colin Chapman knew, to go faster, “Simplify, then add lightness. Adding power makes you faster on the straights, subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.” Light weight means you can go faster, turn harder, stop quicker using less power when your machine has less mass to lug around.
From the original eBay listing: 1995 Aprilia RS250 for Sale
1995 Loris Reggiani Replica #499 out of only 500 made in the world, bike is in excellent condition starts first kick, all fluids changed and topped off, bike is in original unmolested condition, everything on the bike works the way it should, bike is oil injected and it currently runs Motul 710. Clear California title in my name with current registration, comes with extra rear passenger pegs, grab handle, and British Pipercross air filter. If you live nearby you are more than welcome to come check it out in person. I can assist with out of state shipping , I accept PayPal but will not release motorcycle until funds clear my bank account. Prefer cash upon pickup.
With a valid CA title just making the deal sweeter, I expect that those of you looking for a budget RS250 to thrash on track are going to be out of luck on this one: bidding is up over $3,500 with five days to go. This is actually my favorite version of this bike: earlier bodywork and dash with the classic race-rep paintwork that is very 90s, but still manages to look classy.
-tad
Was on Orange County Craigslist for $9k last week but has since been deleted. No reserve and current winning bid is under $4k.
dc
Wow what an awesome bike, the seller has no reserve i guess he must have alot of faith on how much its gonna end up selln for…..i think between 8 to 9 these things are near impossible to find in that condition with that low of miles…somebodyvin cali is gonna end up buyn it that cali plate is 2 good to pass up
He doesn’t need faith. If it doesn’t get to where he needs it he’ll cancel the auction.
It’s got the unicorn fart Calimari title, And we ALL know what that means! Cool scoot, but the RGV or TZR SP still blows up my skirt more… Good luck to the seller!
Or if he gets what he wants he would also cancel the auction
or it means hes just a greedy tool…
Yup it sold, he must have gotten what we wanted….ohhh well im sure more of these bikes will pop up especially with a cali plate
itd be better if more popped up without cali plates and the attendant over-pricey ness
Without the over-pricey ness or swelly-tankiness…all I have seen lately have a fuel tank that’s rubbing on the triple clamps or badly warped from Cali’s E10 gas…
I’d hate to pay almost 5 figures for a bike with an irreplaceable tank….at least not a tank that matches the rest of the bike.
You can smell the unicorn fumes from a mile away…
I wouldn’t count on too many more of these showing up, especially with the CA plate.
I bet there’s not more than a handful. Maybe in other colors, but not the Reggiani’s
I’ve got one.
Anybody else?
Buying rare bikes or Rare things is not for poor people if your gonna be complaining about “overpriceiness”…….stick to common “played out ness”
greed masquerading as elitism lol
I’m starting to thing that there is nothing more played out than boomers delaying hip surgeries so they can buy 50HP bikes that are 20 years old…no you won’t pass anyone in the curves with a 60HP disadvantage and a 30lb weight advantage. Blow your bucks on what you wish. Meet the rest of us later at the finish line.
Whats played out is all those 4 stroke posers wether it be the street bike riders or harley type riders or everything in between, the motorcycle meets are so lame and boring nowadays with everyone trying so hard to stand out..for example u got 30 people that showed up with the same r1, yet most of them have to customize their played out bikes just to try to stand out…if thats not tragic and lame idk what is
baby boomers? idk too many 50 year olds that lust after rvf400s or rgv250s thatd be the exteme young end of that generation. although the dude that bought my last bike was no young buck so I guess they DO exist somewhere
shane, et al, the rider counts more than the extra HP or the lighter weight… a group of young enthusiasts riding new 1000cc sport bikes encountered kenny roberts sr. at an intersection near laguna seca and attempted to follow him on an open country road…
kenny simply rode away and left them… kenny was riding a stock 500cc v twin yamaha street bike with narrow tires…
a capable rider on this 250 could smoke 99% of all sport bike posers…
I bought one of these brand new in 1995 while living in Sweden. I was trying to get one from England but the dealership called me and told me that they could source one for me from Spain which would be better because the headlight low-beam would be the correct one for right hand driving countries. It was delivered in the crate still needing assembly. That was a great day to go pick it up with a trailer, bring it home and finish the assembly. I had the first one in the country and used to park it on the sidewalk on the Avenue downtown and people gathered around to check it out. What an incredibly great handling bike and I can tell you that 60HP was plenty enough to go faster than anyone through any corner if you had the skill to do it. In other words, 60HP is plenty.
Having said that, the 1995 model was jetting and ignition was setup very conservatively. I don’t even think that it had 60HP but I don’t have dyno results to prove it. What I do know is that I have several friends that bought the 1996 model and when we went to the abandoned airport runway outside of town the ’96 ran significantly better and was unquestionably quicker and faster.
I ordered the 1996 ignition box from the factory and replaced all of the carb jets to match my friend’s ’96 model and finally it ran like it should. I eventually imported it to California, got it registered for road use and then got married and sold it 🙁
I was thinking that this one might have been my old bike but the vin doesn’t match. So there are 2 of these in California somewhere.
If I was going to buy one I would buy a newer model because the suspension was kind of funky on the 1995 model (1 fork did preload, the other did rebound)
Yes, I’m 50 now and wouldn’t mind having another one. The new bikes are excellent but everybody has them and besides, nothing beats the feeling of a 2-stroke when it hits the power band.
Thanks for sharing Chuck! Always cool to hear first-hand accounts from previous owners!
dc
I have one just as nice as this one, but with lower miles. Biaggi rep 1996 mk1. Runs good looks good, want to sell it.
Contact me about a Featured Listing: dan@motoringblogs.com
dc
You can go have your dick measuring contest at the finish line. I’m going to take the long way, and avoid the finish line, because I just want to keep riding this bike. And I’m not a boomer…
Chuck,
Do you remember the frame#? Maybe it’s mine…