Aprilia RST1000 Futura

The Aprilia RST1000 Futura is a sport touring motorcycle that was produced by Aprilia from 2001 to 2004. It is equipped with a 113 horsepower (85 kW) four-stroke 60° V-twin engine with electric-start, liquid cooling and electronic fuel-injection. The engine is broadly similar to that fitted to the Aprilia SL1000 Falco.

Aprilia RST1000 Futura
ManufacturerAprilia
Parent companyPiaggio
Production2001–2005
ClassSport touring
Engine997.62 cc, liquid cooled 60° V-twin, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, twin spark
electronic multipoint fuel injection
Compression ratio11.8:1
Power113 hp (84 kW) @ 9250 rpm
Torque96 N⋅m (71 lb⋅ft)
TransmissionSix speed manual transmission, multiplate wet clutch
Frame typetwo-beam frame with light alloy cast elements and extruded elements)
Suspensionfront: 43 mm Showa upside down fork with adjustable preload and rebound damping, 120 mm wheel travel,
rear: single sided swingarm with oscillating rear fork in light alloy with differentiated profile arms, single adjustable Sachs shock absorber with adjustable preload and rebound damping, 120 mm wheel travel
BrakesBremboGold Series.
Front: Two Ø 300 mm double floating discs and calipers with four differentiated diameter pistons (Ø 30 mm & Ø 34 mm).
Rear: single Ø 255 mm disc and a brake caliper with two Ø 28 mm pistons
Wheelbase1,435 mm (56.5 in)
DimensionsL: 2,170 mm (85 in)
W: 740 mm (29 in)
Seat height830 mm (33 in)
Weight235 kg (518 lb) (wet)
Fuel capacity20.5 l (4.5 imp gal; 5.4 US gal) (reserve included), ~4 l (0.88 imp gal; 1.1 US gal) reserve
RelatedAprilia RSV Mille
Aprilia Tuono
Aprilia Falco

With its hard-shelled panniers, the Futura was intended to compete with the similarly styled Honda VFR800,[1] but poor sales and Aprilia's worsening financial position led to the Futura's demise. Production ended in 2003, although the bike remained in the range until 2005.

Design

The Futura incorporated an aluminium-alloy, double-parallel-beam frame with a single-sided swinging arm. Transmission is via a six-speed gearbox and chain-final drive. Other features included CDI dual ignition system using two spark plugs per cylinder, dry sump lubrication, mixed gear/chain timing, (AVDC) double-balance countershaft, and power-assisted hydraulic-controlled clutch, with a patented Pneumatic Power Clutch" (PPC) to simulate a slipper clutch to control rear-wheel bounce during sudden deceleration.[2] [3] The Futura's dry weight is 210 kg (463 lb).

The chief designer in charge of the project was Pierluigi Marconi. He would design the Futura around the same motor used in the Mille, a 998cc DOHC 60 degree V-twin. Among major changes from the Mille were the single side swing arm and undertail exhaust used to retain space for the hard sided luggage.[4][5] Marconi also specified an increase in the electrical generator in order to cope with accessories that touring riders were sure to add. Electrical capacity was increased by 30% over that of the Mille. Marconi directed his design team to spend an extensive amount of time on the exhaust system. The result was that it did not heat up the seat as other undertail exhausts did. It also passed Euro 1 standard emissions without the catalytic converter. The design team moved to supplier Sagem to provide the fuel injection and intake systems.

Marconi would later quit to work with Benelli and then later Gas-Gas. It is his leaving Aprilia that caused promised updates like ABS and power outlets to never materialize on the Futura.

Reception

The bike's large, angular shape divided critics: some thought it was innovative and made it "look like an F-117" while others said it was just too bulky. MCN reviewed the Futura, saying: "The Aprilia RST1000 Futura is desperately underestimated, sadly short lived and now a potential bargain. Aprilia’s ambitious rival for Honda’s polished VFR sports-tourer is able, well-specced and potent".[6]

gollark: We always had smart boards and such but they generally got underutilized.
gollark: No, they mostly just got forced into doing it suddenly after having to do remote lessons.
gollark: I mean, at my school.
gollark: They would probably draw it on a OneNote page nowadays so I can easily screenshot it.
gollark: During non-COVID-19 times.

References
  1. "Honda Interceptor ergonomics". Motorcyclist Online.
  2. "Aprilia Futura". Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  3. "APRILIA RST 1000 FUTURA – BEST USED BIKES". Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  4. "Futura development - The inside story". Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  5. Cathcart, Alan (23 June 2010). "Benelli Blues". Australian Motorcycle News. 59 (25): 10.
  6. "APRILIA RST1000 FUTURA (2001-2003) Review".
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