Aprilia Moto 6.5 Starck

With Phil Aynsley

Aprilia approached famous French designer Phillipe Starck to come up with a city bike that would appeal to non-motorcyclists. Perhaps one could call it a bike for Hipsters before Hipsters became a thing! 

Based on their Pegaso trail bike, the Rotax 650 motor was slightly detuned for smooth city duties and fitted to Starck’s curvaceous chassis and smooth bodywork.

The bike was introduced in 1995 (the same year as Ducati’s Monster), and was built for only two years. However, in 1999 it was put back in to production until it was finally dropped for good in 2002.

Objectively the bike provided only moderate performance and wasn’t a particular success.

However, to my eye, it is one of the most beautifully designed bikes ever to leave a factory! I could have spent a day shooting the incredibly well thought out details…

The 42hp, 150kg weight and low seat height combined for an easy ride around town. This bike is regularly ridden on the Central Coast of NSW.