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In the last three years, the registered scooter market around the world has experienced an unprecedented boom. This growth seems destined to reach new heights and break new records in terms of registrations, and has stimulated an increase in offer characterised by creative vitality and diversification of the proposals. All this is explained by the attempt by many manufacturers to complete their range in terms of product type and size, but also by legislative factors, such as (especially in Italy) the compulsory use of helmets with 50cc scooters (new helmet laws) and incentives for scrapping older bikes.
 The attention of the world’s leading manufacturers has mainly been focussed on a type of product classified as "comfort", with increasing consideration for performance, comfort, exclusive features, larger dimensions and increasingly higher displacement.
Against this competitive backdrop, the Atlantic 500 is Aprilia’s answer to the growing market interest in high-capacity scooters with performance comparable to that of a medium-capacity motorbike, in order to satisfy the requirements of customers who see the scooter as a vehicle for free time and travelling, and not just for everyday trips around the city.
The Aprilia Atlantic 500 represents a further step forwards, the new frontier for scooters in terms of image, comfort, space, performance and safety, as well as personality and exclusivity.
Generous dimensions, a comfortable saddle, plenty of room for the rider and the passenger, protective fairing, high carrying capacity, ergonomic, active and passive safety features: the Aprilia Atlantic 500 is the true Touring scooter. Overall, the vehicle has been designed and built to offer a level of performance and comfort never before reached, while maintaining the easy and immediate ride typical of this type of vehicle.
DESIGN AND COMFORT
Its appearance is extremely refined, designed with the focus on elegance, and created with aerodynamics and functionality in mind: travelling on the Aprilia Atlantic 500 means standing out in city traffic, “living” a means of transport that is exclusive, full of features, offers generous performance and a prestigious image: this is Aprilia’s response to the concept of a vehicle that aims to be a true “saloon”.
Travelling is the natural vocation of the Aprilia Atlantic 500: riding kilometres in maximum calm, with the peace of mind of being on a vehicle made to travel long distances, designed around the rider and the passenger. There is plenty of room for users of all statures; the riding position is ergonomic, allowing long trips without fatigue; the saddle, the real strong point of this scooter, is perfectly shaped and padded; the passenger’s back and arms are also supported, making all trips pleasant.
The carrying capacity of the vehicle is provided by a saddle compartment (47 litres in volume) that can comfortably fit two full-face helmets. A spacious lockable storage compartment is located in front of the rider’s knees, inside which there is a practical power outlet for recharging mobile phones. A further compartment, with cover, ideal for storing small commonly-used objects (coins, glasses, motorway toll tickets, etc.), is located at the base of the handlebars.
The compartments feature central locking, controlled by the ignition key: the saddle, for example, opens directly using the vehicle’s ignition switch, and a pneumatic rod (moved by a gas piston) lifts it and holds it up, allowing extremely simple loading and unloading operations, leaving both hands free.
Special attention has been paid, during the design phase, to aerodynamic protection, using wind tunnel tests to provide solutions that optimise the scooter's overall CX (coefficient of aerodynamic penetration), above all with rider and passenger aboard. This, together with the position of the handlebars, the height, the shape and type of padding used in the saddle and the position of the footrest platform, provides optimum ergonomics, and a fatigue-free and comfortable ride. For touring use too, and consequently on longer trips, the rider and the passenger are ensured absolute comfort.
Aerodynamic protection is guaranteed at all speeds by the accurate profiling of the fairing and the windshield: studies and wind tunnel tests have led to the best results in the category in terms of protection and comfort (for both rider and passenger), resulting in the total lack of turbulence and aerodynamic noise.
The Aprilia Atlantic 500 suspension is borrowed from motorcycling, and designed for high vehicle performance and the comfort and safety of the passenger.
The front hydraulic fork ensures a high-precision ride, thanks to the 40mm-diameter sleeves, and 3.9 inches (100 mm) of travel.
The swinging fork is supported by 2 double-action shock absorbers, ensuring that loads transmitted are symmetrical; the possibility of adjusting the preload allows maximum effectiveness of the suspension for all loads.
The position of the rear shock absorbers has been moved back to allow more space for the saddle compartment, with a total capacity – partly thanks to this detail – of 47 litres.
MECHANICAL COMPONENTS AND BRAKES
The double-cradle frame is made from a lattice of high-tensile tubular steel. Especially designed to ensure sturdiness and torsional rigidity, it features extra reinforcement around the steering stem and engine mount. Given the high performance in terms of speed and acceleration, this type of frame is required to guarantee the safety and precision of the vehicle in all conditions, also with passengers aboard.
 To further improve comfort and safety, in all riding conditions and on all road surfaces, larger diameter wheels have been chosen (14 inch on the rear and 15 inch on the front – the only scooter with this feature present on the market), along with wide tubeless tires (120/70 on the front and 140/60 on the rear). These precise technical decisions, directly borrowed from the world of motorcycles, give the vehicle an intuitive ride that requires no special effort under any conditions, as well as guaranteeing a high degree of safety when braking.
It is indeed during braking that the ATLANTIC 500 is extremely simple and effective, thanks to the design of the integral braking system. Braking is provided by three large-diameter disks: two 260 mm disks on the front, with floating two-pot callipers, and a 220 mm rear disk, featuring a calliper with two opposing pistons.
To further improve response and guarantee absolute safety, when using the left lever - the rear brake lever - the rear brake and one front disk are activated, all managed by a selector valve that optimises the distribution of the braking power according to the load. This system significantly reduces braking distance and provides a much greater sensation of safety and control than a traditional system.
ENGINE
The high-capacity engine fitted on the Aprilia Atlantic 500 ensures high performance, without exaggerating the ride.
It is a four-stroke, single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with four-valve timing and cam shaft in the cylinder head controlled by electronic injection. The maximum power delivered is 29 kW at 7250 rpm, with a torque of 40 Nm at 5,500 rpm that guarantees a high level of performance in terms of maximum speed, acceleration and smooth power delivery, marking new limits and a new point of reference for maxi scooters.
The advanced fuel injection system allows optimum power delivery management and consequently significant comfort and riding pleasure. A dynamic anti-vibration countershaft reduces the vibrations that such a high-capacity engine may transmit; in addition the engine is connected to the frame using a double connecting rod, mounted on especially designed and built radial silent blocks, which allow optimum riding comfort.
Further guaranteeing the highest level of safety is a fall sensor which, if the vehicle exceeds a maximum inclination, blocks the fuel pump, preventing the engine from continuing to run when the motorbike is on the ground.
The Aprilia ATLANTIC 500 is fitted as standard with a catalytic converter that guarantees compliance with the EURO 2 emission standards envisaged for the year 2003.
COMPONENTS
A large, high-power front headlight fitted with three halogen lamps (exclusive in the scooter category), lights up even the darkest roads. The lighting system is completed by the dual rear lights, which stand out in all weather conditions.
Even standing still, the Aprilia Atlantic 500 is synonymous with great attention to the safety of the users: the side stand has a switch that prevents the engine from being started if the stand is in the open position; this detail, together with the parking brake and the fuel pump sensor in the event of falls, makes this vehicle decidedly avant-garde.
Naturally, safe travel also means having the situation under constant control. The electronic dashboard on the Aprilia Atlantic 500 is a real control panel, similar to the dash of a luxury saloon, which provides the rider all the information required during the ride, both around the city and during longer trips.
In fact, the centre of the dash features an analogue speedometer and tachometer, to the left a fuel gauge with reserve light, and on the other side, positioned symmetrically, the cooling liquid temperature gauge with maximum temperature light. Further enriching the dashboard are 3 LCD displays, the smaller two with the function of digital clock, total kilometre odometer and two-trip odometer (very useful when travelling on long trips, while on holiday), while the larger multifunction display, controlled using a button on the handlebars, has the following functions: outside temperature, average and maximum speed, battery charge, injection system diagnostics, programmed maintenance interval, average fuel consumption, chronometer.
Furthermore, the following pilot lights are fitted: indicators, parking lights, high beam, side stand, oil pressure, injection system malfunction, cooling liquid temperature, fuel reserve.
The following features are also supplied as standard, just like a true luxury saloon:
- Double indicators for emergency parking or to signal sudden decelerations on the motorway or ring road
- Automatic indicator return after a set number of seconds or after travelling 500 metres, to ensure greater safety, especially during the often distracted trips around the city
- Passenger backrest, guaranteeing absolute comfort when using the APRILIA ATLANTIC 500 with a friend
- “Body Guard” pin on the frame, allowing the scooter to be easily secured using the special lock/anti-theft device
- 12 Volt power outlet inside the storage compartment, for recharging mobile phones
- Central and side stand; the side stand, as well as the pilot light on the dashboard, has a safety device that prevents the scooter being started with the rod in parking position
- Chrome-plated bumpers, which as well as enhancing the appearance of the vehicle, protect the scooter in the event of falls
A series of optional accessories have been especially designed for the Aprilia Atlantic 500:
- Rear box (color matched trunk with backrest as shown in photo above)
- Dedicated clothing and helmet
- Mechanical anti-theft devices, such as Body Guard, disk lock, "U"-shaped and "Toro" anti-theft devices.
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Scanned Article Reprint from
Motorcyclist Magazine
January 2003 Issue
 First Ride Review: Aprilia Atlantic 500
"A big-bore that's surprisingly not a big bore"
Click here to download PDF* (492kb)
*Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF)
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