1997 Aprilia Moto 6.5
You will not see another one of these at a Queensland auction anytime soon. The 1997 Aprilia Moto 6.5 is one of the most unusual and collectible motorcycles ever put into production, and this one is in Australia, running, and available with only 11,972 miles on the clock.
The story behind the Moto 6.5 is unlike any other production motorcycle. In the mid-1990s, Aprilia commissioned Philippe Starck to design it. Starck was not a motorcycle designer. He was the most famous industrial designer on the planet, the man behind hotel interiors, furniture collections, toothbrushes, and yes, Bordeaux Airport control tower. He approached the brief as an industrial design problem rather than a motorcycle styling exercise, and what came out of that process was something completely unlike anything else on the road. The flowing bodywork is a single sculptural object. The tank, seat and side panels read as one unbroken form. There are no hard edges, no sporty graphics, no nod to any existing motorcycle tradition. It is genuinely, unapologetically, a piece of art that happens to go 150 km/h.
Under that bodywork sits a Rotax 649cc single-cylinder engine with a five-valve cylinder head delivering around 40 horsepower in a package weighing just 150 kilograms. It is a genuinely enjoyable, nimble, engaging bike to ride, not just a museum piece. The Brembo front brake, quality suspension and trellis frame give it real-world credibility.
This example is finished in the original orange and silver colour combination with both the aprilia and MOTO 6.5 badging intact on the tank panels. Philippe Starck's signature is present on the bodywork on both sides near the seat, a feature that no other production motorcycle in history can claim. Engine number 6211255 and VIN ZD4MH0000S0051219 are legible and consistent with factory documentation. The engine presents dry with no oil leaks. The odometer at 11,972 miles suggests it has been used but treated with respect.
The bike will need a chain service and the tyres should be inspected for age-hardening before riding given the likely storage periods. A minor non-factory orange wire is visible at the instrument cluster and worth investigating. These are maintenance items, not structural concerns.
Moto 6.5 values have been climbing steadily as awareness grows and surviving examples become harder to find. This is a collector motorcycle, a conversation piece, and a genuinely significant object. The target buyer is someone who wants something no one else has. Sold unregistered, key F26.
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Location of item: 18 Paradise Road, Acacia Ridge, QLD, Australia
As Standard Auction Practice all Vehicles are Sold Unregistered
As with all vehicles sold in the Classic Car Division, they have been well looked after by their previous owners. This is an Auction Sale. This asset is sold under standard auction conditions, as is, where is. High volumes of incoming product prevent our team from being able to inspect all items individually. All photos, descriptions, odometer readings, hour readings, engine specifications and any condition reports should be used as a guide only and have been compiled after speaking with the owners. To find out more about this lot or to book a live video inspection please contact the Auctioneer Contact which can be found on the Auction Details page. There is no statutory warranty & no cooling off period.
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