1999 Aprilia RS250 Cup

In 1994, Aprilia released the RS250, a road-legal replica version of their RSV250 racer with a modified version of the liquid-cooled, 249cc, two-stroke, 90-degree V-Twin from Suzuki’s RGV250 with different barrels, airbox, a revised ignition and ECU, and a higher compression ratio. Inhaling through 34mm Mikuni flat slide carbs, it would send spent gases out the through an exhaust with Aprilia-designed expansion chambers. Building on the already well-designed single-crank V-Twin developed by Suzuki, the changes made in Noale afforded the RS more mid-range power. What really made the RS250 special, however, was its chassis design. Derived from the bikes built by Aprilia’s factory race program, the RS250 used a polished alloy twin-spar frame paired with an adjustable magnesium alloy banana swing-arm. The trick alloy frame was fitted with 41mm inverted Marzocchi forks and a Sachs monoshock in the back — both adjustable for preload and rebound damping.

The RS250 remained in production, receiving various updates and tweaks – including a significant revamp in ’98 — before Aprilia ceased production in 2004. Despite a decade-and-a-half having passed since the last RS left the factory, the track-oriented V-Twins are regarded incredibly highly today. MCN has gone as far as to call the RS250, “Simply one of the very best, least-compromised sports motorcycles money can buy”.

The motorbike offered

The 1999 Aprilia RS250 Cup on offer here, manufactured in April of 1999, was bought by our seller from his buddy, Rich Chase in Nebraska, about 7 years ago, liberating it from an extensive collection of over 100 motorcycles. Our seller, a motorcycle service and restoration specialist, went through the bike. Work performed included fork seals, carb ultrasonic clean, and cataloged carb parts (jet sizing, etc.), replaced all fluids (2 stroke oil, coolant, brake fluid, engine oil, and fork oil), new spark plugs, tires (date code: F/ 2721 R/ 3521), new battery, and replaced the two stroke oil bag nozzle (OEM replacement) which had dry rotted and was leaking. The bike was used minimally on a couple of track excursions at Willow Springs Raceway over the ownership and is now presented in great condition with 3,680 kms (2,282 miles) on the odometer. To ready the bike for sale, the carbs were cleaned and a new battery fitted, and it is reported to run exceptionally well. Sold on a Bill of Sale.