Grab a slice of Noale naughtiness with my pick of the best used Aprilias you can buy right now!
About 25 years ago a mate bought a used Aprilia. It was great… or it was until bothersome niggles and dire parts supply kept it off the road for 12 months. Such tales still affect the firm’s reputation, but the truth is that Aprilias made this millennium are robust and reliable – and the back-up is sorted, too. They’re also ace to own and can offer the best experiences in their class. Here’s our pick of semi-exotic Italians…
Related: Sportsbike kit buying guide
Read on for our expert guide to naughtiness from Noale!
MCN Recommended: Aprilia Tuono V4 R – £4750 – £7500
Superbike performance, exotic air, and they’re easy to live with
Spec:
- Power: 165bhp
- Engine capacity: 999cc
- Seat height: 840mm
- Kerb weight: 183kg
You know when you go to the British MotoGP round and the noise makes the hairs on your neck stand up? Get an Aprilia V4 and experience it every ride – the sound of the V4 engine is glorious, and overshadowed only by epic midrange response. More than ‘just’ a stripped RSV4, the Tuono V4 R’s bespoke geometry brings sharp-steering trackday-ready handling, but it also works as a pukka road bike. With top-quality running gear, all-singing electronics and upright comfort, it’s the go-to super-naked.
Aprilia Tuono V4 R used buying advice
- Make sure the display isn’t misty. Alarms and exhaust fiddling can cause CAN-bus errors, so check for warning lights on the dash.
- The engine’s top-end tends to be a little noisy, but any clattering should reduce as hydraulic oil pressure builds. If it doesn’t, it could be down to a worn timing chain or knackered tensioner.
- Peep at the V4 to see if the rocker covers are oozing oil. A handful of Tuonos have had a issues with misbehaving gearboxes too.
- The frame hugs the engine, which is good for compactness but bad for access – so servicing can be pricey.
Aprilia Mana – £1750 – £3250
So who said Italian bikes can’t be practical daily riders…?
Spec:
- Power: 75bhp
- Engine capacity: 839cc
- Seat height: 810mm
- Kerb weight: 200kg
Introduced in 2007, the Aprilia Mana ticks lots of Italian stereotype boxes with its V-twin engine, trellis frame, high-spec running gear and easy style. But it also boasts scooter-style CVT drive (with auto changes for the commute or seven-speed manual shifts for hooning) and a fake tank with a 12v socket that’ll hold a full-face helmet. GT versions have a half fairing and luggage as well. Cool and different.
Aprilia Mana used buying advice
- The Mana was well made but filth flung up by the front tyre can affect engine finish, and clumsy jet-washing will damage the paint.
- Valve checks are supposed to be every 18,750 miles, but it’s rare for the understressed and reliable V-twin to need them adjusting.
- The CVT belt should be replaced every 12,000 miles, and it’s expensive unless you decide to buy the (also pricey) specialist tool. Make sure the bike isn’t being moved on by a seller who’s sidestepping the cost.
Aprilia Caponord Rally – £5500 – £8000
Planning a big trip? Nothing beats the 1200’s ride comfort…
Spec:
- Power: 125bhp
- Engine capacity: 1197cc
- Seat height: 840mm
- Kerb weight: 228kg
Aprilia were early adopters of semi-active suspension, and the system on the Caponord Rally delivers unparalleled ride quality. Prioritising comfort, there’s no other bike that delivers such a sumptuous ride – and it does it without sacrificing handling. Add the flexible V-twin, lots of rider aids, proper weather protection and luggage, and the Rally is the used adventure-tourer bargain of the year.
Aprilia Caponord Rally used buying advice
- The oversquare, understressed engine will run and run. 100,000 miles will be shrugged off, no bother.
- Dicky fuel level reading? Probably damaged fuel-level sender wires, rather than the pump, sender or dash.
- Double-check that the fuel tank isn’t bloated from today’s rubbish E10 ethanol-rich fuel. It’ll go back to size if left empty for a few days, but better to start with one that’s not been pre-stretched.
- Rear suspension sensor rods seize, rear sprocket nuts can work loose.
Aprilia RSV Mille – £1750 – £4000
Ducati desirability, Honda reliability. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Spec:
- Power: 120bhp
- Engine capacity: 998cc
- Seat height: 825mm
- Kerb weight: 215kg
Aprilia’s first big ’un was very right. Fast yet accessible, exotic but reliable, the RSV Mille is a great sportsbike for the road – its Rotax-designed V-twin has low-down old-school thump, there’s more handling than anyone this side of Aleix Espargaró needs, and a full-size riding position means it’s a fit for full-grown humans. Great quality and details too. Prices are climbing, so be quick.
Aprilia RSV Mille used buying advice
- Oil getting in the airbox will be from overfilling the oil tank for the dry-sump engine. If the response is snatchy the throttle bodies need balancing, which requires specialist equipment.
- Poor starting will be the starter solenoid, quickly fixed with the 150amp part used on later RSVs.
- If it’s a posh R model, look for cracks around the brake bolts on the Öhlins forks. The oil seals can also fail if the bike’s left sitting a while or seen hamfisted wheelies, so see if there’s evidence of escaping fork oil.
Aprilia Pegaso Strada – £1500 – £4000
Ride-to-work dependability with racy supermoto capabilities
Spec:
- Power: 50bhp
- Engine capacity: 659cc
- Seat height: 780mm
- Kerb weight: 170kg
A boom in ‘modern classics’ means anything from the 1990s can fetch money, so handsome early Pegasos are climbing. Don’t buy one. Go for the 17in-wheel supermoto-style Strada from the mid 2000s instead – you get Yamaha power instead of the old BMW/Rotax motor, better handling and the quality of current Aprilias, from a bike that still feels modern. Might well be cheaper too…
Aprilia Pegaso Strada used buying advice
- Chassis finish is good, and a quick squirt of anti-corrosion spray lets it fight off the grottiest of winters.
- Ignition wires work loose, electrics can corrode, and a failed moisture seal on the back of the dash can cause misting (easily fixed with tape).
- Yamaha’s XT660 single is brilliant as long as it’s been serviced properly. There can be fuel pump issues, but it’s usually a complete failure at 50,000 miles or so. Oil for the dry#2;sump single is in the frame – leaks are rare, but always have a peek.
