Aprilia

A new Aprilia Tuareg 660 joins the filthier end of the middleweight adventure spectrum, bringing some parallel-twin competition to the Yamaha Tenere 700 and KTM Adventure 790 using the 660cc motor from the RS660 sportsbike and Tuono 660 nakedbike.

For 18-years Aprilia has been creating Tuonos by simply undressing its sportbikes, and the Italian manufacturer has stuck with the tradition for the new twin-cylinder Tuono 660, in the process creating a new challenger to the middleweight naked class throne.

Two very exciting new bikes from Aprilia at this year's EICMA show: the production model of the RS 660 middleweight sportsbike – virtually unchanged from the concept we saw last year – and a Tuono 660 concept using the same architecture and engine.

This ultra-exclusive track special features a stratospheric power-to-weight ratio and a weird "no neutral" gearbox derived from MotoGP.

A dream campaign for Ducati's new V4 streetfighter prototype came to a tragic end as pole-sitter Carlin Dunne ran off the road to his death, just 20 yards from winning his 4th Pike's Peak Hill Climb. Aprilia's Rennie Scaysbrook takes the win, and a new record motorcycle time for the course.

It's been a while since we last checked in with Aprilia's flagship RSV4 superbike, but a fresh version has just dropped that takes this absolute weapon of a thing to new heights: 1100cc, 217 horsepower and a top speed around 305 km/h (190 mph).

Powered by the front half of a Tuono 1100 V4, the Aprilia Concept RS660 unveiled at EICMA is a lightweight parallel twin supersport bike with comfy ergonomics for the road and a frontal aerodynamic profile that changes angle to adjust the balance between drag and downforce.

The shape of future sports motorcycles evolved considerably over the last few days as the world's leading sportsbike manufacturers and MotoGP contenders evaluated new aerodynamic fairings at the second last test of the MotoGP pre-season at the Chang International Circuit at Buriram, Thailand.

This year the Autumn Stafford Sale seemed more eccentric than normal, with some extraordinary motorcycles selling for not very much, and at the other end of the scale, several of the most expensive two-stroke motorcycles ever sold at auction.

The new Aprilia Shiver announced at EICMA last November is now for sale featuring the same 900 cc engine (up from 750 cc), advanced traction control, redesigned exhaust, and new chassis.​

RM Sotheby's Duemila Route Auction contained 423 cars, 150 motorcycles, 60 boats and racing hydrofoils, 117 bicycles, bobsleds, and more. Here's the highlights of the motorcycle section.

Control is the key word in the new Aprilia RSV4s and Tuonos, and the result is near limitless adjustments over nearly every aspect of these bikes, many of them on the fly.​