Description
Please note: This is part of the Greg Zydyk collection.
Please note: This bike is incorrectly titled as a 1992. Iconic suspects it was a gray market import and this was done by an importer who brought the bike into the country.
Riding Aprilia’s quarter-liter GP mount, Max Biaggi secured back-to-back-to-back world titles in ’94, ’95, and ’96. Like Paul Smart’s Desmo racer had done for Ducati roughly two decades prior, Max’s success achieved on the RSV250 put Aprilia on the map and helped to establish the small Italian firm as a true contender on the world stage.
Taking advantage of the factory race effort’s triumphs, in 1994 Aprilia released a road-legal replica version of the RSV250 known as the RS250. Powering the RS was a modified version of the liquid-cooled, 249cc, two-stroke, 90-degree V-Twin from Suzuki’s RGV250. The RS’s engine utilized the Suzuki’s 34mm Mikuni flat slide carbs, though it featured its own Aprilia-designed expansion chambers, barrels, air-box, and exhaust system, a revised ignition and ECU, and a higher compression ratio.
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. Married to a six-speed transmission, the RS250’s engine was similar to the motor found in Aprilia’s GP mount, albeit with a bore and stroke of 56mm X 50mm versus the race bike’s square 54mm X 54mm setup. The RS generated 29.5 ft-lbs of torque at 10,750rpm and around 70hp at 11,900rpm — just shy of its 12,000rpm redline.
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 mono-shock in back — both adjustable for preload and rebound damping.
Rolling on 17-inch, five-arm, cast aluminum rims, the RS250 and its race-bred chassis afforded its rider incredibly sharp handling. Slowing the V-Twin was a set of dual 298mm discs pinched by four-piston Brembo Serie Oro calipers out front and a single 220mm unit bit by a dual-pot caliper in the rear. Its GP-inspired bodywork not only looked the business but gave the RS one very slippery drag coefficient. Tipping the scales at just 310 lbs dry, the RS boasted a top speed of over 130 mph, and a standing quarter-mile time of 12.5-seconds flat.
Though over two decades have passed since this machine left the factory, the track-oriented V-Twins are regarded incredibly highly today. MCN went as far as to call the RS250, “Simply one of the very best, least-compromised sports motorcycles money can buy”. On top of that, Aprilia also released a limited run of 500 bikes in 1995 built to honor Loris Reggiani, the first racer who won a Grand Prix for the Italian brand.
This example is VIN: ZD4LD0000TN053071.
During his ownership, the seller has covered approximately 500 miles. The odometer shows 15,093 kilometers (9,378 miles).
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us perform a safety inspection. Our service department notes the following on their condition report:
Gas Tank Internal Condition: GOOD
Engine Oil Level: GOOD
Engine Oil Quality: GOOD
2T Oil Level: GOOD
Coolant Level: GOOD
Coolant Quality: GOOD
Front Hydraulic Fluid Level: GOOD
Front Hydraulic Fluid Quality: FAIL MORE THAN 3% H2O
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Level: GOOD
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Quality: FAIL MORE THAN 3% H2O
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Level: N/A
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Quality: N/A
Final Drive Condition: PASS
Headlight High Beam: PASS
Headlight Low Beam: PASS
Passing Light: N/A
Parking Light: PASS
Turn Signals: PASS
Tail Light: PASS
Brake Light (Front Switch): PASS
Brake Light (Rear Switch): PASS
Plate Light: PASS
Horn: FAIL
Kill Switch: PASS
Brake Pad % Remaining Front: 90
Brake Pad % Remaining Rear: 90
Forks: GOOD
Shock/s: GOOD
Tire Date Code Front: 1217
Tire Date Code Rear: 1716
Tire % Remaining Front: 85
Tire % Remaining Rear: 80
Tire Press. Front: 29
Tire Press. Rear: 33
Battery Standing Voltage: 12.77V
Charging Voltage @ 4k RPM: 14.58V
Running Condition: RUNS
Test Ride Completed: NO
Test Ride Distance: NA
Notes:
HORN INOP
TIRES DATED
BRAKE FLUIDS FAILED MOISTURE TEST
Recommended services:
Replace Tires
Diag inop horn
Flush both front and rear brake lines
Modifications:
Loris Reggiani replica bodywork. Per the seller, “1996 production year wearing another year’s body, OEM bodywork. The body work I had was nicer than what came with it. Plus, I prefer this livery.”
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Continental ContiSportAttack 2 tires with date codes of 1716 and 1217.
The sale includes one key.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Panorama City, California, this Aprilia is offered on a clean Ohio title. Please note: This bike is incorrectly titled as a 1992. Iconic suspects it was a gray market import and this was done by an importer who brought the bike into the country. Have any RS250 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
