LAUNCHED
Aprilia RSV4
WSBK Street Racer T he roadgoing version is remarkably
at Monza in May by establishing a new World
chanical slipper system to keep the motorcycle
close to the WSB machinery. The
Superbike top speed record of 326 km/h. The
honest during heavy deceleration.
adjustable geometry chassis allows
super compact 65 degree V4 combines the
parameters such as the position
factory’s mechanical engineering know-how,
important in a motorcycle that’s so track-
and inclination of the steering head, and the
gained in winning well over 300 World Champi-
focused, and Aprilia’s gone to a lot of trouble
height of the rear swingarm pivot to be adjust-
onship races, with state of the art electronics,
to trim any potential lard from this beast. The
ed. The positioning of the engine in the frame
to produce a truly significant engine for the 21st
engine makes much use of ultralight materi-
can also be altered to change handling charac-
Century. It utilises full ride-by-wire technology
als, with all valve covers and external housings
teristics to suit rider preferences and different
with no mechanical link between the twist-grip
being made from magnesium. The frame, at just
circuits. The Factory version that’s just arrived
and the throttle valves, which are controlled by
10.1 kg, weighs virtually the same as that of the
has Öhlins Racing front forks, with their 43 mm
the latest generation Marelli control unit. Each
twin cylinder RSV, while the very trick aluminium
stanchions titanium nitride coated to minimise
cylinder bank has a dedicated servo unit, actuat-
swing arm weighs just 5.1 kg. New forged
friction. As in Biaggi’s and Shinya Nakano’s race
ing the relevant throttle bodies only, allowing
aluminium rims reduce weight by approximately
bikes, the forks allow precision adjustment of
the processor to manage the fuelling for each
1kg when compared with those of the RSV twin,
preload and compression and rebound damping.
cylinder independently. There are three engine
while the new front brake rotors account for a
Looking after the rear end is an Öhlins Racing
mapping programmes available, controlled from
further 500g reduction in mass. For track use,
shock absorber that can be adjusted for preload,
the handlebars, allowing the rider to change the
the turn indicators can be very quickly removed
compression and rebound damping, and length,
power delivery mode to suit prevailing condi-
along with the mirrors and licence plate holder.
allowing ride height to be optimised to suit rider
tions.
preferences. Brakes up front are the finest radial
By using a 65 degree V angle layout rather
Weight - or the lack thereof – is extremely
The Aprilia RSV4 Factory is simply the closest anybody can get to buying a World Super-
calipers that money can buy – Brembo monob-
than the 60 degree of their V-twins, Aprilia was
bike works racer from their local motorcycle
locs – mated to 320 mm diameter stainless steel
able to build the engine very over-square, with
dealer. It has a gorgeous, powerful V4 engine, a
floating discs developed by Aprilia especially
the resulting large bores allowing for very big
lightweight, super-strong frame that’s fully ad-
for this machine. A Brembo “Serie Oro” system
valves and high revs – the bike revs happily to
justable, and top quality suspension and brakes.
utilising a 220 mm stainless disc and dual piston
14 200 rpm and produces its peak power of 180
It costs R245 995, but you get real value for
calliper with a racing type pump and integrated
bhp at 12500 rpm, with the torque peak of 115
that money. However the standard RSV4 with
reservoir retards the rear wheel on demand.
Nm arriving a little earlier, at 10 000 rpm. The
slightly less power and less expensive suspen-
With all these top-drawer components
unique timing system makes extremely compact
sion and brakes will be here early next year
making the RSV4 Factory the most race-ready
cylinder heads possible, measuring only 250 mm
for those who’d rather sacrifice a little perfor-
superbike money can buy, one would have
high at the rear. The four valves per cylinder are
mance to ease the load on the family budget.
expected it to be difficult for Aprilia to come up
operated directly by camshafts driven by a com-
The Aprilia comes with a 24 month unlimited
with a brand new four-cylinder engine – their
bined chain and gear system utilising a lateral
distance warranty.
first - capable of delivering the performance the
timing chain and central gear train. And, talking
chassis deserves. The Italian engineers’ creation
of gears, the RSV4 uses a compact cassette
is superb, though, and Max Biaggi proved it
gearbox with a wet multi-plate clutch and a me-
58 Car & Leisure 54 Issue