▲ 1999 Aprilia Moto 6.5. If you blinked a little too often back in the mid-to-late 1990s, you might have missed the arrival and departure of the above 650cc urban roadster designed by Philippe Starck, the noted French architect and industrial designer. Starck's fingerprints are smudged all over hundreds of stylish and modish blueprints from office buildings to home furniture to domestic appliances to yachts to toys, and much more. So it was perhaps inevitable that sooner or later he'd get around to motorcycles—which is exactly what he did when Aprilia came calling and looking for a little va-va-voom (with a certain je ne sais quoi) to bolster its ailing cred. The result of that association was, well, interesting. Artistically speaking, Starck certainly served up a suitable bon-bon with this eyebrow-raiser. But the finish wasn't a selling point. The saddle was begging for dirt. The paint was a little flaky. And general corrosion was never far away. Okay, the bike might not look so radical today. But when we first encountered one, we were impressed and befuddled in equal parts. However, from a purely motorcycling ownership/rideability perspective we pretty much poo-pooed and dismissed this 650cc, 42bhp, Rotax powered Gallic challenger as a little too chic-ky and filed it appropriately. Later, we changed our view and decided that it was cool after all (or at least cool-ish). But today, we simply don't know what the hell we think of this machine. And maybe that's the appeal. Regardless, Silverstone Auctions reckons that this example will sell for around £5k - £6k on 14th May 2022 at the Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling Sale at the East of England Arena near Peterborough. It's Lot 309. 400-odd recorded miles. V5C. Fees apply. Interested? UPDATE: No sale!

MOTORCYCLE NEWS

May 2022

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