ApriliaFutura.co.uk

It seems the workshop manuals are no longer availble elsewhere on the web - for free at least - so I've made them available here.

Here you'll find links to workshop manuals, parts fiches and the owner's manual - all available to be downloaded for free.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Futura and there are already a few meets in the pipeline.

If you want to register your interest, use the comments box at the bottom of the page, and/or post on the ApriliaForum link below.

This page will be kept up to date, and the latest info can be found on this thread on the Apriliaforum: UK meet 2011

Read on for details of the Futura and Falco meet in May

Bagster/Baglux luggage system

After a disastrous experiment with an Oxford Humpback universal tank bag, I realised I had to take the plunge on something a bit better. The Futura's plastic tank limits choice, and the French made Bagster tank bag system seemed a good idea.

The system is in two parts: a cover for the tank (PVC coated) and a range of bags that attach with two clasps at the front and two clips at the back.

This allows bagster to make a huge range of bags of all sizes, from map pockets to a 45 litre monster. I chose the 30 litre Alpha bag.

Price

Current prices at 2011 are:

• Cover (3 colours available Red, silver, blue) £109
• Bags: £30-£150 - Alpha bag £94

Thanks to James (Jungle) in Australia for sending this in.

It has become clear that some of us want a better sound from our Futuras as can be seen on You tube etc. I personally have also been looking to improve the exhaust note as the after market add ons don't, to me in any case sound deep enough and are a costly addition if that sound is not what you are after.

Even before Aprilia's first 1,000cc sportsbike, the RSV Mille, broke cover, there was talk of the Italian company building an RSV-powered sports tourer.

Aprilia aimed to make the most of the Mille's success by putting the stonking Vee twin motor - built to Aprilia's specification by Rotax - into as many bikes as it could get away with.

The most successful of these, the Tuono, was little more than a naked RSV with flat bars. But first, in 1999, came the SL1000 Falco - the SL stands for Sports Light - a budget RSV with a classy frame and a little less performance.

Then, in 2000, the company announced the big trailie ETV1000 Caponord - and the RST1000 Futura.

Aimed squarely at Honda's VFR, the RST (Sport Touring, of course!) bristled with innovation and technology as could be expected from a design team led by Bimota's former chief engineer, Pierluigi Marconi - you can read more about the Futura's development here.

The new bike borrowed its name from Aprilia's early 90s sports 125.

The RST 1000 harked back to Aprilia's ground-breaking AF1 FuturaAt the time the 125 Futura helped carve Aprilia's image as a company that used brave technological solutions and bold styling to good effect. The company believed the 1,000cc Futura would further bolster that image, and show the world what a sports tourer should be.