Post Sale Update: This Nera sold for $12,500 after 717 bids on eBay in Byron, California.
In the early 2000s, Aprilia decided to launch the “Dream Series” of motorcycles and scooters – limited edition variants of their already-impressive machines. At the time, the Italian firm’s highest performing bike was the RSV1000R, so that’s what they used for the platform of the first Dream Series motorcycle – the Nera. Per Robert Pandya, Aprilia USA’s Promotions Manager: “Our Dream Series machines have been designed for the most discriminating enthusiast…while the series will expand into other model lines, it was natural for the RSV 1000 Nera to be the premier edition.”
The Nera was a run of 200 bikes that stood out thanks to carbon fiber bodywork, magnesium OZ wheels, full titanium Akrapovic exhaust, and even titanium nuts, bolts, and fasteners – all of those changes saved over 30 pounds of weight (386 pounds dry). It even had the first radial master cylinder seen on a production motorcycle. The price for this was significant – about $40,000 in the US. Unfortunately for Aprilia, the Dream Series didn’t take off, and the Nera was the first and last of them.
This example has roughly 1,300 miles (this generation of the RSV had a known issue where the odometer would reset if the battery dies, so the owner doesn’t know the exact mileage), and it’s said to be original down to the tires. The bike is equipped with the supplemental carbon fiber gas tank but not the original tank (the seller says rubber but I think it was metal) that the US got. “It is also missing the stock rear carbon fiber license plate holder and the exhaust that came on the bike from the factory.” It’s currently got the Akrapovic exhaust that was included when the bike was bought new. “The bike is not mint, but is very close to mint…there is a very small crack in the lower bottom fairing, but it is hard to see. Otherwise, the bodywork is close to mint.” In addition, the seller says that the “the battery is discharging when parked. However, I just never got around to investigating to determine if that is true. This bike would need very little work to be considered a 10.” For context, we’re about to sell a 0-mile example (though obviously, it’s hard to guarantee that with the battery/odometer reset issue that these have) for $22,600 over at Iconic.
Find this Nera for sale in Byron, California with bidding up to $10,300 and the reserve not yet met or a BIN of $14,500 here on eBay.