PROJECT
Aprilia
Generating articles can start in many strange ways, and this Aprilia one was somewhat unusual as it triggered a memory in me from 1981. My good friend, John E Shirt, was up to his eyes in the Yamaha Majesty project. The production was flat-out and machine sales were very strong but John had a concern about the future viability of the project as he knew that one day the supply of the donor Yamaha TY range would dry up. I doubt if he knew about the monoshock Yamaha project that would come to life in 1983. Maybe the change to the red-and-white Majesty fuel tank was an indication? On one of my visits John had shown me the new Aprilia TR 320 he had recently acquired. We both had a ride on it and, yes, we were surprised at just how good it was. You must remember that by this time two other Italian motorcycle manufacturers, Fantic and SWM, had made massive in-roads to the trials market. John had an astute eye for business, as we found out later when he moved from Yamaha to Gas Gas, maybe John was leaving his options open; but soon the Aprilia disappeared. My passionate trials friend Alberto Baessato from Venice, Italy contacted me recently as he finished his latest trials project which is this modified Aprilia. As he told me, it was his idea to combine the ‘British Spirit’ with the ‘Italian Style’ as it had the air-cooled two-stroke Hiro engine developed by Sammy Miller resting in the Italian frame.
WHY TRIALS?
Alberto Baessato: “If you were born in a ‘sea place’ like me, in a place in which everything seems to related to water, it’s difficult to fall in love with trials. In Venice you could be an artist, a fisherman or sell merchandise; rarely you’ll be an enthusiast involved in something like a dirty motorcycle sport! This is my Aprilia story.”
PROJECT APRILIA
The Italian motorcycle manufacturer Aprilia was just five kilometres from my family house. Close enough to put me in contact with the offroad world and push me towards the discovery of a beautiful sports environment, motorcycle trials, and a passion I would keep close to my heart from my teenage years.
In more recent times, and at a more mature time in my life, I decided it was time to look at classic trials. My project would be the rebuild of the Aprilia while introducing some of my ideas.
In 1981, the Aprilia factory based at Noale, Italy, released its first adult production trials machine, the TR 320 model. It was well designed; for example, you could remove the tank seat unit without tools in less than a minute!
The engine was the Hiro 320cc engine developed by Sammy Miller. This modern engine design featured a Nikasil-coated cylinder liner along with in-gear kick-starting and a six-speed gearbox. The cycle parts were well-known components: Marzocchi front fork, Betor rear shocks and Grimeca brakes.
The later model received only a few minor modifications and a change in aesthetics from red to white before they moved to Austrian Rotax engines.
“It was well designed; for example, you could remove the tank seat unit without tools in less than a minute!”
A COMPETITIVE TWIN-SHOCK
A rebuilding project started in my mind — no more a conservative idea, I wanted a very aggressive and competitive twin-shock. I purchased a donor machine, stripped it bare and then started the rebuild. Some minor changes were made to the footrest area and the steering angle for the type of hazards I would be riding. It was sprayed a traditional green colour. The suspension was upgraded at the front and rear, once again to make it more competitive.
In the classic twin-shock world it has surprised me at times just how rocky and steep some of the hazards are, so it was based on this that the steering head angle was changed and the upgraded suspension fitted. The front and rear wheels were rebuilt, with the aluminium rims anodised in black. New cycle parts were fitted where necessary.
“It certainly turns heads whenever I ride it, and I take great pride in what I have achieved…”
SAMMY MILLER HIRO ENGINE
The engine for the Aprilia trials project came from the abandoned ‘Miller’ trials project. Sammy Miller had developed his brand of trials machine. Using his frame and the Hiro engine, and the best of the suspension and cycle parts available, he had looked at a production run of the machines but believed it would not be financially viable.
The engine was known for its strong, smooth power delivery, as seen in later life when Steve Saunders won the British Trials Championship in 1983 and 1984 on the Armstrong fitted with the Hiro engine. The engine was completely rebuilt and in very good condition, with all the bearings and gaskets renewed.
THE RESULT
I am very happy with my ‘hybrid’ Aprilia trials machine, which in my opinion looks very modern for a classic machine. My only apprehension is the black wheel rims. I think it makes the machine look heavy. It handles and performs very well, which is what it’s all about, I want something easy to compete on. It certainly turns heads whenever I ride it, and I take great pride in what I have achieved with the rebuild from the original donor machine.
Many of my friends and fellow riders have modified Fantic and SWM trials motorcycles, but I take great pride in the fact that you don’t see many modified Aprilias. The classic scene is now very prominent in the trials world, and I, for one, enjoy winding back the clock to enjoy my very first love in life, motorcycle trials.
John Hulme, editor, Classic Trial Magazine: “Do you, dear reader, have your own trials story or project machine? Are you starting a project? All we need is some high-res pictures in JPG format; we can work together on the words. If it’s a ‘yes’, please feel free to contact me, my details are in the front of the magazine.”