If you're a motorcycle manufacturer, and you have a beloved model name from the past, you might think about filing a trademark application for that name for a few reasons. The two biggest ones are: You plan to bring an updated version of that model to market sometime in the foreseeable future, or else you just want to protect that name against anyone else using it.
I want to say, right up front, that we don't know what the motivation is for Aprilia parent company Piaggio. The only thing we can say with certainty is that Piaggio definitely filed a wordmark application (that's a trademark on a word, or combination of words; often including a logo design but not always) for the name "RSV1000" in the US in January 2025.
While it previously had a wordmark on file for the same name back when the bike was sold in the US, it allowed that older wordmark to lapse over time. This new wordmark only covers the term "RSV1000," and does not involve the word "Mille" at this point in time.
Naturally, anyone familiar with the original Aprilia RSV1000 (or its contemporary siblings that also used variations on the same Rotax V990 engine: the Tuono, Futura, Caponord, and Falco) probably remembers this bike fondly.
At the time, it went over well with both riders and reviewers; and like any good bike from the past worth its salt, it still has a serious following today. As I write this, I'm currently staring directly at a set of Aprilia Workshop Manuals from the era, as my partner is a longtime and very proud Futura owner. For that reason, I can tell you that one entire volume in the trio of thick yellow binders is devoted solely to the V990 engine. There are also clear, thoughtful markings that tell you exactly what the little differences are between how this engine is used in each model (engine management, tuning, sensors, and so on).
It's 2025 now, though; not 2005. As far as Aprilia is concerned, the RSV4 rules the roost.
But there's not a whole lot of space between the RS457 and the RS660, and conversely there's a considerable power gap between the RS660 and the RSV4. Could a new RSV1000 make sense to fill that gap? Or does Piaggio simply want to protect that wordmark so it can't be used by anyone else?
That's unclear at this point. RideApart reached out to Piaggio, but was told there is no comment on this matter at this time.
Are you a fan of the original RSV1000 Mille, in any of its forms? Would you like to see it make a comeback in 2025 or 2026? Tell us all your RSV1000 thoughts in the comments!
