Deep dive, Sintesi 88 - type EH

More than any other generation, the 1988 Sintesi AF1 125 was a huge jump forward and offered the 125cc class features rarely seen on superbikes let alone on learner legal motorcycles. At the time it was compared to the mighty Honda RC30 superbike racer for the road, which is high praise indeed, but again this was a 125cc motorcycle you could ride at 17 (UK) making it even more remarkable.

The updates over the previous Project 108 model were considerable with the new bike featuring all-new bodywork including twin round front headlights, GP inspired radiator openings on the fairing, separate seats for the rider and pillion, with the pillion seat colour coded to give the elusion of a single seat unit. The metal fuel tank hinged upwards to gain access to the spark plug, battery and coolant reservoir. The stock Sintesi gained bold new graphics with a purple colour band which were very much in-tune with the younger generation of the era. For the UK (and export) market we gained the classic Reggiani Replica with striking graphics and the number 6 proudly displayed on the tail piece. This bike featured heavily in the UK media and helped put Aprilia firmly on the map.

Chassis updates include:
All new twin-spar aluminum frame - significantly lighter and stiffer over the steal frame it replaced.
Alloy 'rear set' foot rests for the rider and pillion.
38mm upside-down fork - 4 years ahead of the Japanese
Single-sided swingarm and APS suspension - carry over part from the project 108
New 17" multi spoke wheels - sizes: 100/80-17 front and 130/70-17 rear
New 320mm floating front disc brake with a four-piston calliper

Engine updates include:
The new Rotax 123 replaces its predecessor, the 127, and remains a mainstay of the Aprilia range up until 1994, when it was replaced by the Rotax 122. Here are the most important new features:

New aluminum cylinder with Gilnisil-treated liner
New two-piece cylinder head for improved cooling.
Stroke 54 x 54.5
Compression ratio dropped to 15:1 (15.5:1 on the Replica).
Balancer shaft (not present on the Rotax 127).
Dell’Orto PHBH 28 RD oval-section carburettor.
Rave 2 pneumatic power valve
New airbox with dynamic air intake mounted on the right side of the bike.
Maximum power output of 28.66hp at 10,500 rpm

A, B and C versions
In early production the fuel cap is located on the right hand side of the fuel tank and without the breather hose, with the vent integrated in to the fuel cap. These early models can be identified by the codes "A" and "B" which are visible on a decal on the seat subframe.

All subsequent production bikes have identification code "C," on this version the fuel cap moved to the left side with an additional external vent on the right.

Left side, AB fuel tank, right side C fuel tank

Colours

Black, purple, white and red

Dark blue, aquamarine, white and red

Replica

There is a forth colour that appeared in a bike listings catalogue which I am not 100% clear if this was a pre-production colour that got dropped for another option, a low production colour (I have not seen another one?)or even a colour mishap in the print process!

Black, green, white and red

Road Test; 1988 Sintesi Replica 125

 Motorcycle News road test from October 4th 1989 featuring the AF1 Sintesi Replica (type EH)

AF1 125 model variants and how the UK models fit in

Following on from previous posts on the UK specification Futura bikes I have done a little additional research. To date I can confirm the UK 1992 Sport Pro bike is 100% a GE model as I have had this confirmed by a frame number on an owners bike. I am still waiting on conformation of the UK 1991 Futura with the FM style seat unit and colour scheme, however we know that the frame, fork, swingarm, mudguard etc are all GE spec, so for now I am categorising it also as a GE (UK) bike until proven otherwise via a frame number.

Here is a simplified version for all the AF1 models and how the UK bikes fit in to that timeline.

And to separate out the officially imported bikes in to the UK, we had:

Magazine, International motorcycle catalogue 1988-1989

 The 'International Motorcycle Catalogue' was a model listing directory published annually. I had several from period and I am missing the 1990 one with the Futura generation in, if I find it I'll update. Here are all the listings for the AF1 series.

1988 AF1 Sintesi Replica Swiss version

Sometimes the rules on motorcycle homologation are a little bit silly, an example of this in the 80's was that to sell a bike into the Swiss market it could only have one headlight...

Aprilia were no exception to this so had to produce a revised fairing with a single square headlight to be able to sell a bike into the Swiss market. Honda also produced a single headlight version of the JC20 NSR125 which looks equally odd. Other examples worth checking out are the Swiss RC30, OW01 and even the 916!

Brochure: AF1 Sintesi 1989

 AF1 Sintesi 1989 brochure - unfortunately its not original copy but I am working on getting a high-res update. :-)

Magazine - Motorcycle Mechanics Jan 2025

Motorcycle Mechanics magazine have a feature called 'Bay-watch' where they look out for projects on platforms such as eBay hence the Baywatch pun! This month they spotted a 88 Sintesi AF1 project priced at an extremely cheap price of £425, but with a catch as the bike is located in France. I have have checked the website Leboncoin which is where I suspect the bike was but it has gone. For those not familiar with Leboncoin here are all the AF1 related bikes currently for sale. Anyway here is the feature.

Magazine: Practice Sportsbike, Readers Restoration

Practice Sportsbike, Readers Restoration feature

Paint codes - 89 Replica

 I have been looking at getting some panels re-painted so inevitably I've been looking for paint codes. I have unearthed a very useful thread on the Aprilia AF1 125cc page from 2021, for more colours view it here

For the 89 Sintesi Replica it looks like the following are correct:

Red = Rosso Custom JBT2

Lilac = Viola Chiaro JBR8

Turquoise = Turchese JLR4

Road test - MCN

 Motorcycle News October 4th 1989, 'Just Seventeen' test, Aprilia AF1 vrs Honda NS125R vrs Yamaha TZR125 vrs Suzuki RG125 vrs Kawasaki AR125

My bike - 1989 Sintesi Replica

Welcome to my new AF1 blog hopefully you found me from my other restoration which you can read and follow on www.mbx80.co.uk 

Back in the late 80's Aprilia launched the AF1 project 108 125cc motorcycle, it was like nothing else on the market, it made what the Japanese were producing look massively outdated. Over in Italy the 125 scene exploded with manufactures producing ever more exotic looking bikes looking to out do each other in some seriously cool late 80's/ early 90's paint schemes. 

I wanted an Aprilia bad, top of the list was the black and purple Sintesi, then the Replica. My friend at the time bought the number 6 Reggiani Sintesi replica and I almost bought the number 4 Replica which would of made a cool pair of bikes! Then Aprilia dropped the Futura and I took the plunge and bought a brand new 1992 AF1 Futura.

1992

Fast forward to now and the number 4 was a scratch I needed to itch, so I started to look for a bike for sale. I wanted post on an Aprilia facebook page presented a project bike and a deal was done. The bike was a runner, the engine had been out and the internal rubber seals replaced. the forks had replacement stanchions so had been re-built and it also had brand new tyres. Cosmetically it is a little tired in keeping with a 30 year old bike, all-in-all a good base as a project and something I can restore and make good.