Aprilia

[notanumber]

Hello

I hope this is not an ignorant question (Google has so far failed me!) ... can someone confirm whether Aprilia (as a current manufacturer of bikes) is the same company that made the lighting systems/switches etc) on Ducatis back in the day, or is it a different company entirely?

Happy to hear from anyone who can inform me!

Thanks

[TDF]

I can't recall where I read it. (it might come to me at some point) Seems to me it was a book or magazine article about old Ducati's and their electrics, but from what I recall reading they are not related to each other. Somebody will be along with more proof than my faulty memory though I hope.

TDF

[Craig in France]

That's about as much as I know too, but I've never managed to find any supporting documentary evidence. It seems that Aprilia the electrical equipment supplier disappeared - went bust/got taken over? - around 1974 or 75. I don't even know where the company was based. This product catalogue is currently on sale in Italy:





Aprilia the motorcycle manufacture started as a bicycle maker after the war and it wasn't until 1968 that the company produced its first powered machines, using bought-in engines (Sachs, Morini, Hiro), mopeds first and then off-roaders.

This is the Daniela


This a Colibri


This is a Scarabeo


More photos here:
http://www.dropbears.com/a/aprilia/aprilia_history.htm

[tobaccoblender]

Hi Craig
What a shame that catalog isn't from the mid or late 70's instead of '70. None the lass I'm half temped to buy it just for the fun of browsing through it!

[Craig in France]

Go for it, Paddy! I can't believe there will be many people interested in it, so you may be able to negotiate a bit (perhaps ... )