[ycws]

Just yesterday did I upchuck a thought about my Aprilia for the 2004 Shoot-out - and today this. Get Bush to pay the measely 147mil needed. Oh, wait, I forgot, US politicians (Arnie excluded) prefer to drive over rather than with motorcyclists...

I agree with Sean in that it is more likely that somebody will take over Aprilia (and it's assets: Ducati is showing interest in Moto Guzzi). This may well come from a non-motorcycle company (automotive?), just like MV Agusta recently.

On the other hand, if production stops my bike will be like a Norton in a couple of years, a collectors item ($$$). Ok, a couple of decades...

 

[F451]

Since the Italian's have an aged since of culture, I trust they will pull this one off and Aprilia will prosper. I sure would miss Aprilia and what it brings to the table of the motorcycling world.

 

[acecycleins]

Guzzi is on the block and if Duc doesn't buy the brand I will, at that point, conclude that most Italians are truly nuts. I had no idea the money problems with Aprilia would lead to shutting down the operation. The rumors say that there are money bags out there for Aprilia to pick up but who really knows. If I were Petronas I'd be talking to Foggy about the idea of aquisition. Foggy, I believe, would not be unhappy about using the resources and R&D done by Aprilia to advance the FP1 effort. The two companies have taken different approaches to racing but both efforts are solid and expanding the Petronas line could only help get the street motorcycles effort rolling with a little more steam. I would hate to see some wanker automobile company buy Aprilia and screw it up. The real looser will be Laverda. That brand is toast. Here's one for you, how about HD allowing the Buell brand to buy Aprilia. The money's there. Buell would suddenly take a leap forward and may actually be able to be competitive in superbike/supersport racing. Just something to think about.

 

[35244]

Just another day in the long, troubled history of the Italian bike industry. Since when are Aprilia, Ducati or MotoGuzzi NOT teetering on the brink?...

 

[Buzglyd]

For those of you who constantly harp that Harley-Davidson should build modern sportbikes. I give you Aprilia.



We can all agree Aprilia makes wonderful motorcycles. How many of us own one?

 

[bdesmo]

Aprilia's misfortune was not an unforeseen event here in Europe. Beggio's fortune was entirely based on being a giant scooter manaufacturer. The motorcycle ambition was to be able to challenge the Japanese in Europe and become the world's 5th largest motorcycle company. He used the cash flow from scoooter sales to gear up for motorcycles, first the development of the RSV and then outbidding Ducati for Moto Guzzi and acquiring Laverda. When Italy's scooter market tanked (down 43%) the party was over. My personal belief is that Rotax of Austria will take on the motorcycle side of the equation, it won't be terribly expensive and they already make the Pegaso & RSV engines. The scooter franchise is another issue and one where the fighting will be intense. Keep watching.

 

[nokneedragin]

again the HD faithfull refuse to admit that change is possible

Mis-management of financial assets and excessive aquisitions, leading to a high overhead eating any profits, have way more to do with this than the fact that Aprillia made bikes that leaned to the sporting side.

If man was meant to ride only cruisers, then why where corners invented?

 

[Buzglyd]

Re: again the HD faithfull refuse to admit that change is possible

I own two sportbikes, both of them Italian. Think you can drag up some US and worldwide sales numbers for non-Japanese sportbikes? I'll bet Honda sells more bikes in a week than the others do in a year.

 

[bdesmo]

I almost forgot, BMW is in on this as well. Talks apparently had been underway for Aprilia to at least partly manufacture/assemble the new F650 whe it comes out in 2006. They have a stake in this one too.

 

[nokneedragin]

Re: again the HD faithfull refuse to admit that change is possible

So, let see if I understand that logic:

Honda sells more bikes in a week than than others do in a year..... So why compete against Honda in any style of motorcycle? Heck, HD might as well give up production of bikes all together, since Honda sells more bikes than they do.

 

[Buzglyd]

Re: again the HD faithfull refuse to admit that change is possible

That's not exactly what I'm after here.

My point is that the squids and print rags rave over how great the latest Aprilia, Ducati, Fischer!!, Truimph is (and how Harley should be doing the same thing) but when it's time to crack open the wallet, they trudge down to the local Honda/Yamaha etc. to take advantage of the superior price/performance ratio.

Lord knows I don't agree with KPaul about much but if he breaks down and buys a Triumph rather than another Japanese sportbike I'll have to give him credit.

 

[21684]

Re: again the HD faithfull refuse to admit that change is possible

KPAUL should go with the Buell.

 

[longride]

Re: again the HD faithfull refuse to admit that change is possible

I'll put is simply. If your going to compete in the price/performance catagory, which Aprilia is trying to do, then the Japanese are going to rip your lungs out and feed them to you for lunch. Maybe wasting all that money on a race team isn't so smart after all. Harley is looking smarter every day.

 

[longride]

I agree with the folks that say Harley should buy Aprilia and MotoGuzzi. Harley has tons of cash, and they need to spend it badly buying dying sportbike manufacturers. No better way of p!ssing away your profits in my book.

 

[Buzglyd]

Re: again the HD faithfull refuse to admit that change is possible

You know a Ducati ST4 would look good in your garage alongside all that Japanese and American iron.

Just think how cool you would be when you roll up to the Italian beef stand.

 

[kpaul]

Dear Harley don't buy Aprilia but buy an engine.

The Buell Firebolt needs a modern engine and Aprilia has an excellent V-Twin. I know it ain't going to happen but.... One can dream.

 

[Buzglyd]

Maybe they could buy Oldsmobile too.

 

[kpaul]

I agree with you. Don't make the mistake a large Chicago based (used to be in Seattle) aerospace company made a few years ago. The lesson learned from that deal was wait till they go under then buy the parts at garage sale prices and trash the poor management who ran them into the ground. In this case I wish Harley could buy the rights to Aprilia's V-Twin and stick in the Firebolt. You have convinced me that companies like Ducati, Aprilia, Triumph, and Buell can't compete head to head with 4 Japanese powerhouses. These guys need to stick to market niches.

 

[nokneedragin]

from a mayonaise jar on funk&wagnels front porch

Ducati

Rotax

Scooters

Ducati will get MG, and maybe Laverda

Rotax might take over the motorcycle line, more likely to just produce the rsv motor to sell.

Whats left of Aprillia will revert to scooters.

my $0.02

The shame is the GP tace team will shut down, I allways have a soft spot in my heart for the underdogs in racing.

I had to admire them for trying to compete, and if I had the $$$, I'd own one (of just about every bike made by every manufacturer, got to have dreams, right)

Someone had mentioned Foggy/Pertronis getting Laverda. Be a interesting idea, but I don't think Pertronis is really interested in making motorcycles, it seams to be more of a marketing/racing/prestige thing to them.

 

[nokneedragin]

Re: again the HD faithfull refuse to admit that change is possible

Your kidding right? You know he is saving up to get the triumvirate of the motorcycle gods (VFRCONNIESV650)