Aprilia AF1 information? + photos what you think?

[simon1221]

does anybody know anything about these?

are they like RS125 or different engine?

cos i am pretty interested, im going to look at a 1991 J reg AF1 on sunday, and i was wondering what it would be like,

is it is as big as the RS125 as I am quite tall (6ft) ?

[Kickstart]

Hi

Which model of Aprilia AF1? There are 3 basic types and at that age (with the mess made of getting the dates on imports) it could be any of them.

Not likely to be the original 1987 model AF1, just because there are not many of them around. Rotax 127 engine. Normal forks. Single sided swinging arm. 16" wheels. Steel frame. Massive fuel tank. Fuel gauge.

Next up is the Sintesi, which was made from 1988 to 1990. Rotax 123 engine. Alloy frame. Single sided swinging arm. 17" wheels. 320mm cast iron floating front brake disk. USD forks. Twin headlights. Fuel gauge on early ones, but not on later ones.

Lastly is the Futura, which was made from about 1990 to 1992 (but sold in the UK from 1991 to 1993). Rotax 123 engine. Larger carb. Alloy frame. Single sided swinging arm. 17" wheels. USD forks. Single headlight (except on UK models which had 2 small round headlights with a tatty rubber surround).

Size wise the '87 model is the biggest but least sporting. The other 2 are smaller, but about the same size as an RS125. The Rotax 123 engine was used in the early RS125.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[simon1221]

i reckon it is probably the futura


thankyou for your help

[Kickstart]

Hi

The Futura has 5 spoke wheels, the Sintesi has a 7 spoke front and 9 spoke rear wheel.

The Futura uses a 34mm carb (well, except some German market ones, ones with catalytic converters and some SP versions).

Watch out for the very front top corners of the main fairing panels. They tend to break off.

Corrosion on the front forks can be a problem.

Budget for a replacement piston / rings.

Check the reset knob for the trip meter works. They use a cable which tends to decide to twist rather than turn (if you see it you will know what I mean).

Top speed I managed out of my Futura was 112mph indicated. In reality the top speed is about the same as an early RS125, but they have slightly less power at the top end.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[simon1221]

do they have centre stands or can i get one as the side stand looks a bit unstable on the other two stroke 125cc bikes

[Kickstart]

Hi

No centre stand and I don't think you could easily fit one. The side stand on the Sintesi and the Futura is quite good (just don't sit on the bike with the stand down).

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[simon1221]

ok thankyou for all your help, I am now very much the wiser!

[mrchips]

Kieth aka Motorcycle Encarta

[simon1221]

er ive been told about the spiralling insurance costs for aprilias, is this true for this bike?

[Kickstart]

Hi

Not heard anything about spiralling insurance costs. They are learner bikes and RS125s are one of the most crashed bikes around, but the cost of insurance is still going to be fairly close to any other sports 125.

Take some pictures of the bike when you go and look at it and post them on here.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[simon1221]

I went to see the bike today, 16,000 miles, full tax n mot, 1992 sintesi replica AF1 (doesnt seem right somehow, 1992? eh?), it looked alright, but the seat was about to rip as it had started to rot in the age of the bike, so a new seat would be needed and the brake light for the back brake didnt seem to work. The bike ran okay but the guy brought it as a non runner from a friend and fixed the non-spark problem and then sell it on.

The fairing also showed signs of stress and the swingarm looked a bit rusty.The guy had replaced a leovinci can with an arrow one (see pic) which looked brand newish.

The bike had only done 1000km in 2 years according to the mot certificate so thats a bit wierd.

The guy had been putting in that cheap 2 stroke oil from car shops ("works well in lawnmowers, motorbikes and many other things") but it didnt seem like that had damaged the engine but i was worried as my brothers RS50 seized pretty sharpish after putting that stuff in.

Thats about it, take a look at the photos and see if it is worth £950 or even £800 (lowest he would go to)

photos:


https://www.zyworld.com/simondna/aprilia_af1_01.jpg

https://www.zyworld.com/simondna/aprilia_af1_02.jpg

https://www.zyworld.com/simondna/aprilia_af1_03.jpg

https://www.zyworld.com/simondna/aprilia_af1_04.jpg

https://www.zyworld.com/simondna/aprilia_af1_05.jpg

https://www.zyworld.com/simondna/aprilia_af1_06.jpg

https://www.zyworld.com/simondna/aprilia_af1_07.jpg

https://www.zyworld.com/simondna/aprilia_af1_08.jpg

https://www.zyworld.com/simondna/aprilia_af1_09.jpg

https://www.zyworld.com/simondna/aprilia_af1_10.jpg

[Kickstart]

Hi

Right, it might well have been registered in the UK as a 1992 bike but that is probably a 1989 bike (that shape came out mid to late 1989). That is the "Replica" colour scheme, although it is missing the sticker saying "Replica" on the front mudguard..

The swinging arm is steel and they do rust, but it is only cosmetic really. Hate to think about who painted the side stand gold!

Those are the original mirrors on it which are no longer available (I have been trying to get some).

The tyres are Bridgestone BT45s. Should be OK.

The front footrests have been replaced with tacky anodised ones. However the correct pegs are still used on the RS125 and RS50.

The rear brake light is operate by a pressure switch that doubles as a banjo bolt. They are under £10 (and common to loads of Italian bikes) but do mean bleeding the brakes to fit. Looks like the rear brake lever is bent a touch as well (think it is the same lever on the RS, but not certain).

The chain looks OK. The forks look OK. The indicators are original, but the fairing screws look like a right motley collection. That crash bung will do no good there (it is bolted to a light pressed steel bracket).

The bodywork on these is fairly strong but years of being overtightened will have stressed it a bit.

Looks like the ignition switch has been changed. It should not come out of the top yoke like that. Also looks like it is missing the helmet lock (goes on the o/s pillion footrest hanger, where those 2 small holes are). Think it should be the same key for the ignition, petrol cap and seat. My guess is that someone has nicked it in the past and it has had an RS125 lock set / ignition switch fitted.

Try and get the original exhaust as that one should not pass an MOT.

Basically I would say it is probably worth £800 easily. Spend £40 getting the seat professionally recovered, £20 on some stainless fairing bolts (the correct size ones are easy and cheap to find) and budget on fitting a new piston (around £100 parts).

Yes the engine might go bang, but the same could be said of a £2000 RS125 with an unknown history. I would use a decent quality 2 stroke oil in it.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[simon1221]

my dad reckons its only worth about 600, but il see what else i can find and ring him in a fortnight and offer him £750 with the tailight working and a better seat and see what he says, as it isnt selling fast, he didnt say anything about anybody else and the advert has ran out on friday ad.

[Kickstart]

Hi

If he is trying to sell it then it will have gone by then. Almost certain you will not get it for £750 with those bits done. Maybe £750 as it stands.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing