Veloce Motorcycle has unveiled the Aperion, a limited-edition machine powered by an eight-cylinder X-configuration engine built from Aprilia RS125 parts. With 280 horsepower and a €90,000 price tag, it challenges the boundaries of modern motorcycle engineering.
Veloce Motorcycle, a British startup, has introduced the Aperion—a motorcycle that defies convention with its extraordinary engineering. At its core is an eight-cylinder, two-stroke engine, assembled from Aprilia RS125 components, that produces a staggering 280 horsepower at 12,000 rpm. This machine is not a concept or a showpiece: it is a limited production model, priced at €90,000, and only 24 units will be built.
While two-stroke engines have largely disappeared from the European market due to emissions regulations and the rise of more efficient four-stroke technology, Veloce Motorcycle has chosen to revive this classic approach in a way never seen before. The Aperion’s engine features eight cylinders arranged in an X configuration—essentially two intertwined four-cylinder boxer engines. Each cylinder is sourced from the iconic Aprilia RS125, a model renowned for its racing pedigree and distinctive two-stroke character.
Engineering Without Compromise
The Aperion’s engine is a feat of mechanical creativity. Eight forged pistons operate in four pairs, each group fed by its own 24-millimeter Dellorto carburetor. The throttle system uses a custom-designed spiral mechanism to synchronize all eight carburetors, ensuring precise fuel and oil mixture delivery. The exhaust system is equally ambitious: eight independent pipes, each shaped using industrial 3D metal printing and laser sintering, wrap around the engine in a visually striking display of craftsmanship and function.
To integrate this complex powerplant, Veloce built both the front and rear subframes from welded steel tubing, with the engine itself serving as a stressed member of the chassis. The rear swingarm is a single-sided aluminum unit, paired with a monoshock, while the front suspension and brakes are sourced from a Suzuki GSX-R, including radial-mount Tokico calipers and lightweight alloy wheels. The rest of the bike is intentionally minimalist: a long fuel tank, a leather seat, a simple tail section, and a single headlight. There are no fenders, license plate holders, or reflectors to distract from the mechanical centerpiece.
Performance and Exclusivity
Weighing just 160 kilograms, the Aperion promises explosive acceleration and a soundtrack unlike anything else on the road. While its top speed may not match the fastest naturally aspirated superbikes, its power-to-weight ratio and the visceral experience of a high-revving two-stroke X8 engine set it apart. The limited run of 24 units ensures exclusivity, and deliveries are expected to begin next year.
Veloce Motorcycle’s approach stands in stark contrast to the industry’s shift toward electrification and stricter emissions standards. By leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques and classic two-stroke technology, the Aperion serves as both a tribute to motorcycle history and a bold statement of what’s still possible in modern engineering.
For context, two-stroke engines were once dominant in racing and high-performance motorcycles, prized for their simplicity and power delivery. However, environmental regulations and advances in four-stroke efficiency have made them rare in new production models. The Aperion’s use of Aprilia RS125 cylinders—a model that itself became a legend among lightweight sportbikes—highlights the enduring appeal of two-stroke performance, even as the industry moves in a different direction.
