In spite of its tiny displacement, by US standards at least, the Aprilia RS250 is not a toy. The RS50 on the other hand? Possibly a toy. But a very serious toy: this may have the displacement of a scooter and may not even require a motorcycle license endorsement in some states, but it’s a real motorcycle, in miniature.
From twenty feet away, you could easily be forgiven for mistaking this for it’s larger, 250cc sibling, or even a sports 600 if you’re not into Aprilias. With disc brakes front and rear, a set of 40mm upside-down forks in the front, complete instrumentation, and a six-speed gearbox, it’s got all the features of a genuine sportbike.
Powered by a 49.7cc two-stroke single, the RS50 does offer pretty limited straight-line performance. Originally, these were generally restricted to just 30mph, but de-restricted, they’re good for an honest 50 or 60mph, which is plenty fast for something powered by an engine the size of your average leaf-blower…
From the original eBay listing: 1999 Aprilia RS50 for Sale
Condition is like new, purchased and titled in Idaho, shipped by original dealer to California.
After delivery, started once and rode it for 2 miles to make sure everything worked. Then put in office behind plate glass as display/decoration with several other Ducati, Triumph and Moto Guzzi motorcycles.
Never sat on or started since. Sold as is with no warranty what so ever.
Registration has expired. Clean title of course
Before display, battery were removed, fuel stabilizer poured in tank, carburetor was “drained” by turning the pet cock to off position and run the fuel dry.
Indoor all its life, behind plate glass and never disturbed.
Local buyer preferred, Shipping is to be arranged by non local buyer to pick up and crate the motorcycle.
Photos were taken this afternoon (10-31-2015), after removal from office and transported to owner’s garage. Check the photos carefully, tires still have unworn nubs, all control show NO wears. This is about as new as a 2 stroke fly weight pocket rocket you can still buy today.
Weighing in at a svelte 197lbs dry, this should be very easy to load into a pick up or onto a trailer to take to the track. And track this you should: with a top speed of 65mph with the help of a tailwind, road use is going to be limited, to say the least. But people race these in MiniGP classes often held on kart tracks against similar bikes from Honda, Derbi, Yamaha, and Suzuki. And if road use is what you want, you can certainly drop in a 70 or 80cc kit to make yourself and extra… couple horsepower. But given the 8hp or so the bike has to begin with, and extra two or three ponies is nothing to sneeze at.
The starting bid of $3,279.00 has no takers as yet, with 3 days left on the auction. Certainly, considering what Honda CT70s are going for these days, that seems like a pretty good deal and appears to be in perfect condition, with just 9 miles on the odometer. Nostalgia aside, that vintage machine doesn’t offer nearly the sex appeal or opportunity for track-day trouble of this little bike.
-tad
I had one of these for a short while it was fun stock putting a pipe on really helped over stock. I added a malossi 80 top end kit and some better reed petals and the 21mm bigger carb. Then it was a lot more fun it would do 65mph easily then. It was over powering the stock gearing it needed to be taller probably would have done 70mph then.
Harder to get parts stateside for them still a lot of good sources in Europe the moto morini am6 motor is still widely used in other bikes / scooters.
There’s no market for such a motorbike. At least at that price. Nobody would ever buy it at more than 1000 $ (I guess also at a much less)…
The price may be a little steep, but there is indeed a market albeit a small one “pun intended.”I sold a 99 Derbi GPR a few years back “very similar bike” for $2,800. I’d love another, they definitely favor a small rider willing to play Ricky racer at every stoplight just to keep pace with traffic. Not wide waste bands or hills…
I believe the two dogs in the pic are in agreement they could out run this bike.
maybe some rich daddy will buy this for his aspiring boy racer, otherwise not likely to happen at this price point