Aprilia Futura – Magazine road tests and write-ups
The Aprilia RST1000 Futura fared quite well in road tests around the world when it was launched in 2001 and many of these tests are still available to see online.
This page is the largest and most comprehensive archive of Aprilia Futura online road tests and write-ups still available, with links to pdf versions of magazine tests stored on this website.
If you’re thinking of buying a Futura, and want an idea of what it’s like to ride and how it stands up to the competition, then dipping into a few of these should help.
At present I have added only a few pdfs, but I have a big stack of magazine road tests waiting to be scanned that I’ll put here when time allows.
Online road tests and write-ups
Motorcycle News
- Motor Cycle News UK: “The Aprilia RST1000 Futura is desperately underestimated, sadly short lived and now a potential bargain.” Read the road test: www.motorcyclenews.com: Aprilia Futura
Sport Rider was discontinued in 2017. It’s archives can be accessed through Cycle World, however this requires a subscription (including the two links below).
- Sport Rider (US) 2001: Launch test Read the road test: www.sportrider.com: Aprilia Futura launch test
- Sport Rider (US) group test 2001 (?)- The Flexible Five – Aprilia Futura v BMW R1150RS v Ducati ST4s ABS v Honda VFR800 ABS v Triumph Sprint ST Read the road test: www.sportrider.com: Sport tourers group test
- Cycleworld.com August 2010: Aprilia RST 100 Futura – Best Used Bikes
- Motorcyclist Online (US): Launch road test 2001(?) Read the road test: www.motorcyclistonline.com: Aprilia Futura road test
- Motorcycle USA 2003 – Aprilia Futura road test. Read the road test
- Bikepoint.com (Australia) 2001: Launch road test Read the road test: www.bikesales.com.au: Aprilia Futura test
- Bikepoint.com (Australia) 2003: Group road test v BMW R1150RT, Honda ST1300, Kawasaki ZZR-1200, Suzuki V-Strom and Yamaha FJR1300. Read the road test: www.bikesales.com.au: Aprilia Futura group test
- Motorcycle.com(US) March 2001: RST1000 Futura launch test: “A serious sport tourer from the little company that can.”. Read the road test: Motorcycle.com: Aprilia Futura launch test
- Motorcycle.com(US) July 2001: RST1000 Futura v Ducati ST4. Read the road test: Motorcycle.com: Aprilia Futura v Ducati ST4 comparison test
- Motorcycle.com(US) April 2003: Aprilia Futura v Ducati ST4S, FJR1300, Triumph Sprint ST: “[The Futura is]…far and away the most comfortable tuck out of the bunch, due to its excellent seat (and pillion) and forgiving peg position. The better compromised of the two high performance bikes.” Read the road test: Motorcycle.com: Aprilia Futura v ST4S, FJR1300, Triumph Sprint ST group test
Thanks to Spitfire Triple for finding the Motorcycle.com tests.
Downloadable magazine tests
Some of these are large PDF files of 2 Mb or above, so may take a minute to download. You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them
- Road rider (Australia) Aprilia Futura road test: Download the road test
- BIKE Magazine (UK) 2002: £8,000 sports tourers test: Aprilia Futura v Ducati ST4s ABS v Triumph Sprint ST v VFR ABS. Download the road test
- BIKE Magazine (UK) 2003: Sports tourers test – Aprilia Futura v Ducati ST4s v Honda VFR v Triumph 955I Centennial Download the road test