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two-cylinder

The Aprilia RS250 is probably the best street-legal 250cc two-stroke motorcycle coming out of the Noale factory from 1994 to 2004.

  • The Aprilia RS250 could make a comeback soon
  • New patent application suggest a new 250cc parallel-twin 4-stroke engine in the works. 

While the idea of reproducing the two-stroke motorcycle is tempting but we can’t ignore the fact that the engine is obsolete while it also goes against the global emission standard. 

However, the RS250 nameplate could still make a comeback with an entirely new quarter-litre platform, according to a new design registration filed in China by Aprilia’s Chinese counterpart, Zongshen-Piaggio. 

The new powertrain – published by CycleWorld – showcased a DOCH parallel-twin engine.

Not only that, the CAD renderings also shows a central-cam drive setup (between the cylinder) instead of on the side similar to Honda’s VFR400R and Yamaha’s YZR-M1 MotoGP race bike.

While it may seem unusual, but it could be a significant indicator that Aprilia is pursuing a compact cylinder head which helps to reduced the flex to the camshaft and crankshaft.

Also, it could also suggest that Aprilia is squeezing for a higher rev range. 

Currently, Aprilia already has the Zonghsen-built GPR250R that is sold in Asia which runs on a single-cylinder engine. 

*2020 Aprilia RS250 SP

The same bike was used as the basis of the track-only Aprilia RS250 SP that was introduced in the US in 2020. 

That said, the upcoming 250cc two-cylinder 4-stroke machine could use the GPR250RR nameplate in Asia whereas Aprilia likely to revive the RS250 name in Europe and the US. 

  • Royal Enfield’s twin-cylinder engine and motorcycles slated for EICMA 2017 debut

  • Widely speculated to be a 750cc engine

  • May even go above 800cc

Spyshots of the Royal Enfield twin-cylinder motorcycles have been circulating around the internet for some time now, more or less confirming the manufacturer’s claim of working on a twin-cylinder engine, Autocar India reported.

It’s also obvious that Royal Enfield are also working on different models around that twin-cylinder engine, as evidenced by the photo above. The model in the foreground appears to be a cafe racer-styled model, while the one on the right looks to be a standard model.

The cafe racer has a rounded fuel tank with deep knee recesses, and a single seat. The standard model has a bench seat, which is offered as an option to the current Continental GT 535 buyers.

Apart from those features, both bikes are mechanically identical. The engines of bikes appear to be the same air- and oil-cooled parallel-Twin. The suspension and brake components looked to be identical, too.

Building many different models based on one engine or chassis platform saves development and production cost, while customers enjoy lower maintenance costs as most parts are shared amongst a few models.

Although widely speculated as 750cc, Royal Enfield has not officially confirmed it to be so. But, the mule has been testing extensively in Europe before being tested in India. Royal Enfield sold 651,107 bikes in India alone, compared to 15,383 exported last year. However, the current 500cc and 535cc variants made up less than 10% of the domestic number; the bulk of the sales were the 350cc models.

That has lent fuel to the speculation that the new bikes may even feature a capacity higher than 750cc, possibly even going above 800cc to rival Triumph’s best-selling 900cc Bonneville Street Twin lineup.

These new parallel-twin motorcycles are to make their international debut at the EICMA show in Milan this November, with an India launch slated for early 2018.

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