In these times, few people dare to “step outside the box” when we talk about design and technique within the world of two wheels. Perhaps for this reason the wildness is even more striking. Veloce Aperion, presented by its creators last month at the well-known Bike Shed Moto Show in London.
A motorcycle that captivates aesthetically, but that leaves you speechless when you are familiar with the technology that surrounds its engine and cycle part. A concept that Veloce Motorcycles, a British startup based in Oxfordshire, has been developing for several years. Also to her younger sister, Ethereumequipped with a configuration L4 2T 500 cccapable of delivering the astonishing power figure of 145 HP at 12,000 rpm.
Veloce Aperion in detail
This is not the first time we have come across a motorcycle with eight or more cylinders pulsating inside its frame. It is also nothing new that Veloce Motorcycles has opted to use a 2-stroke architecture engine to power its new range of models. What is a pleasant surprise is the endless details that make up the development of this project, including the configuration in X which the block enjoys.
As explained Jack Levya representative of the brand, in an interview with MCN colleagues, the decision to use this format is based mainly on the general balance it offers: “The diagonally opposed pistons activate at the same time, so everything is perfectly balanced. And that configuration in X ma“The bike is very thin: if you think about what a V8 or V6 engine would look like, it would be quite wide.”
The Aperion’s eight cylinders are made by Rotax and are curiously the same ones that were once mounted on the Aprilia RS125. These are arranged in “two separate ‘V4’ crankcases around a central transmission housing” just as the brand details. As expected, most of the components that shape the engine have been manufactured by CNC, giving rise to mechanized benches made up of four parts.
In turn, each of them mounts two crankshafts, “connected by gears to a common intermediate shaft, which drives the custom clutch and transmission”. For power Veloce uses a battery four 24mm Dellorto carburetors. One stops to think what it must be like to develop such an artifact. The system appears to be powered by a twist grip accelerator with eight spiral cables.
Veloce declares a maximum power of 280 HP at 12,000 rpm in his new Aperion. This figure is the exact result of multiplying by eight the approximately 35 HP that the Noale model declared at the time. We have serious doubts that such an amount of “horsepower” reaches the rear wheel. Not even the crankshaft, although we assume that the brand will have carried out multiple tests on the test bench to confirm these data.
Beyond the features, there are countless parts of the Veloce Aperion that deserve to be mentioned. Starting with its double tubular subframe responsible for anchoring the engine at the top, the latter becoming a self-supporting element within the scheme itself. Then there’s the tremendous single-sided rear swingarm made from a solid block of aluminum. Its striking image speaks for itself of the dedication and care put into the development of the model.
Something that is confirmed once again by delighting in the shapes and finish offered by the exhaust system. Manufactured using 3D printing, MCN explains after their talk with the brand: “The tubes are laser sintered from metal powder, directly from a CAD computer program, allowing engineers to seamlessly integrate the expansion chambers into the most efficient space around the engine and chassis.”
With this it is possible to maintain “thin and light walls, without the need for the complex process of cutting and welding thin metal that was traditionally used”they conclude. The set is completed with a powerful inverted front fork, a central monoshock interconnected by a coupling bar with the swingarm itself, 17″ alloy wheels and a double front brake disc and radially anchored calipers. At the rear, a third disc is activated by a single-piston caliper.
It will not be until next year 2027 when Veloce Motorcycles will put both models on sale in special and limited series: 24 copies in the case of Aperion and 48 units if we talk about its younger sister Ethereal. The price of the first, as confirmed by the brand, will start at 78,000 pounds, about 90,000 euros todayand will be marketed under approval “Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval” (MSVA), only valid for the United Kingdom.
More information and details on the company’s official website.
