Aprilia RSV 1000 R Bol d’Or
The RSV 1000 R Bol d’Or used a striking endurance-racing tribute livery to give Aprilia’s V-twin road superbike a distinct limited-edition identity. The purple and red treatment is central to its appeal. Sale descriptions use both 2007 and 2008 dates, which should be reconciled for each motorcycle rather than counted as separate runs.
The RSV 1000 R Bol d’Or used a striking endurance-racing tribute livery to give Aprilia’s V-twin road superbike a distinct limited-edition identity. The purple and red treatment is central to its appeal. Sale descriptions use both 2007 and 2008 dates, which should be reconciled for each motorcycle rather than counted as separate runs.
Design and engineering
The underlying motorcycle was the RSV 1000 R, with its V-twin sports-bike layout. The edition’s historical interest centres on the Bol d’Or tribute and corresponding factory presentation. It should not be described as an actual endurance race motorcycle merely because it wears endurance-inspired colours. Race histories and competition preparation require evidence for the individual machine.
Production and edition scope
The specialist auction and associated coverage report 200 examples. That is an edition total reported in specialist sources, not a newly verified factory build audit. The number must not be applied to all RSV 1000 Rs, all purple Aprilias or a wider group of race-replica paint schemes. Registration in a later year does not by itself identify another edition.
Identifying an authentic example
Confirm the factory edition identity through original paperwork and model identifiers, then compare the bodywork, graphics and equipment with documented Bol d’Or examples. Reproduction decals or painted replacement panels can make an ordinary RSV look similar. An unopened shipping crate, where claimed, is a condition and provenance statement requiring its own evidence; it is not an identifying feature shared by the entire series.
Collector significance
The Bol d’Or sits among Aprilia’s visually distinctive late V-twin specials. Correct livery, documented identity and a clear record of changes are more useful than an unsupported claim of race pedigree. A purchase inspection should combine normal mechanical and chassis checks with a careful inventory of edition-specific panels and graphics. Its production story should remain separate from the histories of other endurance events, avoiding the common mistake of conflating the Bol d’Or with the Le Mans 24-hour race.
Related motorcycles
- Aprilia RSV 1000 R Nera
Sources
Why this machine matters
The Bol d’Or sits among Aprilia’s visually distinctive late V-twin specials. Correct livery, documented identity and a clear record of changes are more useful than an unsupported claim of race pedigree. A purchase inspection should combine normal mechanical and chassis checks with a careful inventory of edition-specific panels and graphics. Its production story should remain separate from the histories of other endurance events, avoiding the common mistake of conflating the Bol d’Or with the Le Mans 24-hour race.
The story
The RSV 1000 R Bol d’Or used a striking endurance-racing tribute livery to give Aprilia’s V-twin road superbike a distinct limited-edition identity. The purple and red treatment is central to its appeal. Sale descriptions use both 2007 and 2008 dates, which should be reconciled for each motorcycle rather than counted as separate runs.
Built in limited numbers
The specialist auction and associated coverage report 200 examples. That is an edition total reported in specialist sources, not a newly verified factory build audit. The number must not be applied to all RSV 1000 Rs, all purple Aprilias or a wider group of race-replica paint schemes. Registration in a later year does not by itself identify another edition.
On the road
The Bol d’Or sits among Aprilia’s visually distinctive late V-twin specials. Correct livery, documented identity and a clear record of changes are more useful than an unsupported claim of race pedigree. A purchase inspection should combine normal mechanical and chassis checks with a careful inventory of edition-specific panels and graphics. Its production story should remain separate from the histories of other endurance events, avoiding the common mistake of conflating the Bol d’Or with the Le Mans 24-hour race.
Gallery
Specifications
Factory specifications may vary by model year, market and configuration.
Identity & production
- Official model
- Aprilia RSV 1000 R Bol d’Or
- Base model
- RSV 1000 R
- Edition
- RSV 1000 R Bol d’Or
Powertrain & performance
- Engine
- V-twin
- Powertrain
- Petrol
Motorcycle specifications
- Category
- Road motorcycle
Authenticity & identification
Confirm the factory edition identity through original paperwork and model identifiers, then compare the bodywork, graphics and equipment with documented Bol d’Or examples. Reproduction decals or painted replacement panels can make an ordinary RSV look similar. An unopened shipping crate, where claimed, is a condition and provenance statement requiring its own evidence; it is not an identifying feature shared by the entire series.
Ownership considerations
Confirm the factory edition identity through original paperwork and model identifiers, then compare the bodywork, graphics and equipment with documented Bol d’Or examples. Reproduction decals or painted replacement panels can make an ordinary RSV look similar. An unopened shipping crate, where claimed, is a condition and provenance statement requiring its own evidence; it is not an identifying feature shared by the entire series.
