Aprilia X 250TH revealed: 240 hp, MotoGP brakes and just 30 bikes built

If you thought Aprilia was going to sit quietly while Ducati grabbed the hyperbike spotlight, think again. The Noale firm has rolled out its own slice of excess in the shape of the Aprilia X 250TH, and it’s every bit as unhinged as it sounds.

Built to mark 250 years since the signing of the United States’ Declaration of Independence, the X 250TH is a 30-bike, track-only special, with 25 of those heading straight to the US. 

And yes, it even gets a full-on Stars and Stripes paint job to hammer home the point.

But as ever with Aprilia’s “X” bikes, the paint is the least interesting bit. The headline grabber is the braking system. Aprilia claims this is the first customer bike you can actually buy fitted with proper carbon-carbon discs – although as Ducati ranter cheekily launched its own new Superleggera this morning (complete with carbon stoppers), we aren't sure if that statement still stands. 

It’s the same tech used in MotoGP, meaning full race-spec stoppers on the road. They’re lighter than steel, said to cope better with extreme heat, and should deliver absolutely savage braking performance.

Quite how they’ll feel if you’re not braking from 180mph into Turn One at somewhere like COTA is another matter entirely.

The rest of the bike follows the same theme. It’s essentially an RSV4 turned up to eleven, with a 1099cc V4 pushing out a claimed 240 hp, and revving past 14,000rpm, and a dry weight of just 165kg. As you’d expect, the engine’s had the full race-ready treatment, with a higher compression ratio, a revised intake, a titanium exhaust, and a dry clutch.

The aerodynamic package is another area where Aprilia has gone all-in, with the bike’s bodywork being heavily inspired by the firm’s MotoGP RS-GP. It arrives complete with seat wings, tail wings, and a full suite of carbon aero designed to generate downforce both upright and cranked over. There’s even a ground-effect system built into the fairing to help it stick when you’re leaning over. In simple terms, it’s designed to behave less like a superbike and more like a prototype racer.

Chassis and running gear are exactly what you’d hope for at this level. Öhlins pressurised forks and a TTX shock handle suspension duties, while forged magnesium wheels and Pirelli World Superbike slicks underline its track-ready credentials.

Electronics come straight from Aprilia Racing too, with a fully adjustable APX ECU that lets you tweak traction control, engine braking and power delivery on a per-gear basis. It even comes with its own laptop, so you can get properly stuck into it and look full-factory as you queue up in the pit lane before you wobble around in the Intermediate Group.

Prices start at €115,000 (around £99,500) plus VAT, or $150,000 if you’re one of the lucky few in the States. For that, you also get the usual crate of extras, including paddock stands, tyre warmers, and a bike cover.

Aprilia X 250TH spec and features