2003 Aprilia RST1000 Futura Photo Gallery

With a rumbling 60-degree V-Twin, Aprilia, throws in the RST1000 Futura in the sportbike-with-bags category. Check out what we thought in our 2003 Aprilia RST1000 Futura First Look.

Aprilia's Futura lives up to its name with its multi-faceted angles and blazing paint color.

The RST1000 Futura is fitted with a competent front end that includes decent Brembo brakes and a responsive 43mm inverted fork. Standard touring amenities include color-matched saddlebags and a centerstand.

The Futura's distinctive styling tends to polarize opinions. Some applaud it for its unique profile while others perceive it as blocky and overdrawn.

The Futura's long and sloping windscreen provides good protection for a sport-tourer. Mirrors handily incorporate turnsignals, but more effort went into appearance than functionality.

Right-side view shows the good and the bad. The single-sided swingarm simplifies wheel changes and shows off a cool wheel; chunky bodywork looks a bit ungainly.

The Futura's bags are roomy and stylish, and their lockable storage adds greatly to the bike's sport-touring intentions. Too bad they're not keyed to the ignition, but neither are Ducati's.

Aprilia's RST1000 Futura is a worthy player in the Italian sport-tourer equation, with comfortable ergos, capable road manners and distinctive styling.

Sexy Italian items such as the lovely and exposed rear wheel and underseat exhaust is offset by an underdamped rear shock that limits the bike's cornering prowess.

This Computer Aided Design model demonstrates the Futura's beefy aluminum frame and the large exhaust collector under the engine that leads to the undertail muffler exit.