Aprilia RS3 Cube
Encyclopedia
The RS3 Cube is a prototype race motorcycle that was developed by Aprilia
to compete in the 2002 until 2004 MotoGP seasons. It was unveiled at the Bologna Motor Show
in December 2001 by Aprilia's president, Ivano Beggio, and their race boss, Jan Witteveen. The Cube is powered by a 990 cc inline-3
four-stroke engine (to conform to MotoGP rules of that time).
The bike was not a success; Colin Edwards
proclaimed the bike was "born bad," and it had "just so many things that need fixing." It had a tendency to wheelie easily, a lack of front-end feel, vibration from both the front and rear wheels, and unpredictable response from its fly-by-wire throttle system. Edwards' teammate in the 2003 Aprilia team, Noriyuki Haga
, crashed the Cube 28 times in a single season.
The engine was considered the most powerful at that time, producing about 240 bhp. A testbed that never was raced produced 260 bhp at one point, before Aprilia bowed out of MotoGP in 2004.
Aprilia
Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle company, one of the seven marques owned by Piaggio, the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer.Aprilia started as a scooter manufacturer, but has more recently come to be known for its race-winning sportbikes...
to compete in the 2002 until 2004 MotoGP seasons. It was unveiled at the Bologna Motor Show
Bologna Motor Show
The Bologna Motor Show is an auto show held in Bologna, Italy, in December. It is recognized as an international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles.- 2011 :...
in December 2001 by Aprilia's president, Ivano Beggio, and their race boss, Jan Witteveen. The Cube is powered by a 990 cc inline-3
Straight-3
A straight-three engine, also known as inline-three engine, or a triple, is a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine with three cylinders arranged in a straight line or plane, side by side....
four-stroke engine (to conform to MotoGP rules of that time).
The bike was not a success; Colin Edwards
Colin Edwards
Colin Edwards II nicknamed the Texas Tornado is an American professional motorcycle racer. He is a two time World Superbike champion and has competed in MotoGP since 2003, now riding for the Yamaha Tech 3 team in the 2011 season.-Early years:At the age of three, his Australian father, Colin...
proclaimed the bike was "born bad," and it had "just so many things that need fixing." It had a tendency to wheelie easily, a lack of front-end feel, vibration from both the front and rear wheels, and unpredictable response from its fly-by-wire throttle system. Edwards' teammate in the 2003 Aprilia team, Noriyuki Haga
Noriyuki Haga
, is a Japanese professional motorcycle racer. Haga has been runner-up in the Superbike World Championship three times, and has finished 3rd in the series four times....
, crashed the Cube 28 times in a single season.
The engine was considered the most powerful at that time, producing about 240 bhp. A testbed that never was raced produced 260 bhp at one point, before Aprilia bowed out of MotoGP in 2004.
External links
- Aprilia RS3 Cube MotoGP bike reviewed by Motorcyclist Online