Fuzzygalore.com - Girlie Motorcycle Blog » Aprilia

Motorcycle Photo: 1998 Aprilia RS250 Rossi Replica Reflection

Fuzzygalore — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:41:17 +0000

Kenny’s 1998 Aprilia RS250 Rossi Replica is like a little candy-colored jewel. I think it exemplifies beautiful Italian design much like it’s compatriots the Ducati 916/996/8 and MV Augusta F4.

The mirrored Aprilia decals cast such nice reflections when the bike is parked. They’re like tattoos on the ground.

A few months ago we saw a previous generation RS250 through the window of a shop here on the island. Hopefully some lucky soul will pry it from the current owners hands and breathe some life into it. It’s criminal to let such a beautiful little machine rot away.

Aprilia RS250 Links, Articles and Information

1998 Aprilia RS250 Fuzzygalore Girlie Motorcycle Blog

Window Shopping: Bimota, Aprilia, Derbi – Oh My!

Fuzzygalore — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:01:43 +0000

While out and about today we passed by a now defunct motorcycle showroom. We peeked in the windows and found a few interesting specimens. The owner is well known locally for hoarding collections of interesting bikes that are never priced to move. Sorry for the glare on photos, it was quite sunny and we had to shoot through the window.

1997 Aprilia RS250

I Spy:

Suzuki X-6 Hustler
Bimota Dieci
Bimota SB6
A pair of Derbi GPR 50s
Kawasaki Police 1000
Vintage Royal Enfield (model unknown)
Vintage Indian (model unknown)
Ducati Paso 750

On the Road: California to Montana on an Aprilia RSV

Fuzzygalore — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:01:44 +0000

Back in July, Novos took the time to share his plans for a week long trip from Southern California to Montana on his Aprilia RSV. Now that the trip is in the books, he is sharing his ride as a series of posts as a guest blogger on my partner site Watermelon18.com. The photos are just awesome!

Day 1 is up and ready to roll:

California to Montana on an Aprilia RSV – Day 1

Novos' RSV outside of Bodie, California

Read the Original Post:

Heading off into the sunrise, Southern California to Montana on an Aprilia RSV

Pictures of Old Girlfriends: Crudmop’s 2001 Aprilia Falco

Fuzzygalore — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:52:46 +0000

Back in the day when I first started riding with Crudmop, he had a 2001 Aprilia Falco that he was crazy about. It was an unusual bike locally, especially in yellow and often prompted people to ask what it was. There aren’t too many photos left of her, but here she is:

Heading off into the sunrise, Southern California to Montana on an Aprilia RSV

Fuzzygalore — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 05:00:00 +0000

A few weeks ago a little birdie told me that our friend Novos, whom we last saw on our California trip in June2008, would be heading off on a solo one week, 4,000 mile motorcycle trip in the beginning of August. Being that Novos lives on the west coast in southern California, he will be piloting his decidedly un-touring-like bike into the sunrise and tracking north towards beautiful Montana. With just a few weeks left before he sets off, I thought I’d ask him a few questions about his style of traveling on the motorcycle.

Can you give me a description of the trip you are taking?

I’m basically riding one big loop around the Rockies, starting from Southern California cutting across southwest Nevada into southern Utah. From there I zigzag across Utah, dipping down into Arizona to see Monument Valley, as the south-eastern point of the trip, then back up to Colorado. The reason for adding Colorado to the trip was having the near-useless goal of hitting Mount Evans and “the highest paved road in North America” at 14,240 feet. From Mount Evans, which is just outside of Denver, it’s up north into Rocky Mountain National Park, and up into Wyoming to see Yellowstone for the first time. I’ll be popping out of Yellowstone to ride the Beartooth Highway up into Montana, up into the outskirts of Billings, which will be the north-east point of the trip, then doubling back to Wyoming to hit Chief Joseph Highway, and back into Yellowstone. After I’m done visiting Yellowstone, I’m afraid the major highlights are gone, since from there the only noteworthy site is the Bonneville Salt Flats, and from there, it’s the drudgery of straight-ish highways to get home.

All in all, it looks like I should be going through 8 states, (CA, UT, AZ, CO, WY, MT, ID) maybe 9 if I pass through New Mexico after heading out of Monument Valley. I’ll also be going through 6 National Parks (Zion Nat’l, Capitol Reef Nat’l, Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat’l, Rocky Mountain Nat’l, Grand Teton Nat’l and Yellowstone Nat’l) and I’m looking to cover roughly 4,000 miles in a week.

Do you have a pre-planned route; will you be winging it or a mixture of both?

Planning for the trip initially, as always, took place in Google maps, just looking at the twistiest, most indirect route to anywhere possible. I had originally just wanted to head out to Mt. Evans in Colorado, and the rest of the trip just expanded from there. I usually try not to over plan the trip, and I’m always flexible in my route in case of road-closures, or even some local telling me that there’s a road that’s 100 times better than the one I picked just a short detour away, which is also why I never actually reserve hotel rooms, in case I’m either further, or behind on my route than I had anticipated.

Tell me about your bike. What are the year, make and model?

2004 Aprilia RSV Factory. It didn’t say in the manual it wasn’t intended for sport touring, so clearly it’s kosher to use this machine

How long you’ve been planning for this trip?

Fine planning has been going on for maybe a week, the idea for the trip is maybe 4-5 months old

Is this the longest trip you have taken to date?

This is the longest only-moto trip I’ve taken so far. The 2nd longest trip was up to Eureka and back, 2700 miles in 4 days

When you think about your trip are you excited, nervous or is this just like any other day?

I’m nervous and excited to be honest. It’s definitely something to look forward to, and there are some unknowns out there. I haven’t even checked to see where and how far apart gas stations are (I only get 160 miles out of my tank before it’s dry) so there’s still a degree of uncertainty about the trip. That, and there’s so much out there I get to see for the first time in person.

What have you found to be the most challenging aspect of planning your trip?

Trying to find a cheap place to stay in for the night. I usually only sleep maybe 6 hours a night before I’m headed out again so it just doesn’t justify spending money on somewhere “fancy” since I only really want the shower and the A/C at night.

What are you most looking forward to seeing while you’re out on the road?

Monument Valley, because I’ve only always seen it in postcards, and basically all the huge geological marvels that the Rocky Mountains hold. I’m fascinated by towering mountains, they really put you into perspective, just how small and puny we are compared to nature.

Is there anything you aren’t looking forward to?

The heat. I really, utterly, truly hate the heat. And the post-ride time to kill at your destination point. It’s only like 8 or 9PM, you’re tired, but you don’t feel like doing anything and you can’t fall asleep yet.

What is one creature comfort item that you simply cannot travel without?

My iPod, it makes time go by faster on straight roads, and music can help keep your spirits up when you’re tired and the monotony of the road is getting to you.

Which would you choose?
10 all expense paid track days on your current motorcycle OR 10 all expense paid days on the road traveling?

That’s a tough one. I’d want to go with the 10 track days simply because “all expenses” would include gobs of tires, and that would just end up milking the “all expense” factor to the max, but the 10 days on the road would be awesome, because it’s the difference of seeing endless new sights, about a gazillion turns, smells and vistas, compared to the thrill of going fast on the same 9-15 turns all day long. I’d probably go with the road trip.

Do you have a special riding memory or anecdote that you’d care to share?

My last overnighter which took me outside of Yosemite in mid October, I was riding to Bodie, the cold wind biting harshly at my chin and my toes, thinking how uncomfortable I was, yet at the same time relishing the experience realizing I’d be laughing later at waking up at 5:30 to go ride in 18 degree weather.

What would you say the top 3 lessons you’ve learned from traveling on the motorcycle would be?

The 3 things that make all the comfort difference in the world on a road trip: Your tank bag to use as a pillow to rest your body on, a throttle rocker to save your hand, and taking 2 Advil after 400 miles regardless of your body being sore or not – it will be soon enough.

If it’s not a road trip in the fall or very early spring, when it’s still cool and crisp, you end up stopping and consuming a lot of drinks to keep hydrated. If planning allows, never travel in the summertime, due to weather AND tourists.

Never think about “how far you have to go” for your mileage that day. It’s easier to think about how many miles you’ve already done.

Do you collect any souvenirs from your travels or do you have any item that you picked up on the road that you hold dear?

Most of my souvenirs are in the forms of stickers or pins of the places I’ve gone to, such as National Parks and the like, but mostly the memories are in the camera, and in my head. Anytime I’m bored or having a lousy day I can just daydream my way back into that road trip.

Though I am green with envy, I cannot wait to hear all about the trip upon Novos’ safe return. Hopefully he’ll have a blog and photos to share with us. Stay safe and have fun, Novos!

Do you have comments, questions or suggestions for Novos? Let him know on the comment link below!

Novos’ Aprilia RSV Outside of Bodie, California.

Double Your Pleasure: 2 Street Legal Aprilia RS250s in New York

Fuzzygalore — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:16:34 +0000

Can you catch lightning in a bottle twice? Kenny has a very special little motorcycle with his registered, street legal 98′ Aprilia RS250 here in New York. Interestingly enough, our friend Catfish also has a NY registered RS250. To see two of them parked together on the street is quite the rare treat.

The army of angry bees.

Catfish’s ’97 Aprilia RS250.

Read more about Catfish’s quest for an Iron Butt here!

Just Play it Cool: Nighttime Shots along the Long Island Sound

Fuzzygalore — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Given this unseasonably cool weather we’re having, it’s hard to believe we’re in the tail end of August. Tonight was an exceptionally lovely 64 degrees. As the chilled air passed through my jacket, I felt like I was suddenly in another place in time. It won’t be long now before the nights all feel this way, when the green of the leaves makes its exit and the first day back to school will be nothing more than a memory. Do you ever wish that you could just slow time down?

‘Why are you standing like a Muffler Man?’

Aprilia RS250: Fogging for Mosquitos

Fuzzygalore — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:00:00 +0000

My darling boy fogs for mosquitoes on his way in to the office today. I was hoping to get a candid picture of him leaving without him seeing me. I’m pretty sure that I wasn’t detected through the cloud of blue smoke as he got his little Italian girlfriend hot. That right there is a boy in love.

The Stuff that Dreams are Made Of

Fuzzygalore — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:34:04 +0000

Life is funny. You never know when you will turn the corner and have the imprint of a dream that will steer the events of your life. You can just be moseying along and something will sneak up on you and crawl into your psyche and just wait patiently, quietly moving you through your life, making things happen without you even realizing that you are working towards the achievement of a goal. Sometimes I wonder if it really is the act of achieving this thing whatever it may be, or if it is just the delicious act of dreaming itself that keeps you going?

I find it kind of funny too that your own DREAMS, these things that can passionately drive you, can hold absolutely no value whatsoever to someone looking in from the outside. They can simply listen to the talk about something that sets your heart alight and go… ‘That’s it, huh?’

I recently saw a dream come to fruition. That feeling of being happy that someone else is happy can really be just like you’re experiencing the joy yourself. Is this something that we only learn to do in adulthood or when you make the leap in to parenthood maybe? I don’t remember ever feeling that way as a young person.

Who doesn’t have a list of somedays? Can you be that person that makes someday happen tomorrow? I guess maybe the answer more often than not is really sometimes. Maybe my someday is tomorrow. I think I’ll keep working on that.