As promised, Aprilia officially unveiled the brand new RSV4 R this past weekend at Imola WSB in Italy. Of course, Max Biaggi was there and he got to ride the budget version of the RSV4 Factory, while the press got the chance to take a first look at the final specs and price of what is claimed to be “the world’s most exclusive motorcycle.” > More
Knowing about the existence of the Aprilia RSV4 Factory and actually hearing about an “R version” that the Italian company has prepared for next year, you tend to ask yourself how did they possibly transform the supersport motorcycle into an even faster two-wheeler destined for the track, one well worth of the extra “R” in its name. The fact is that the new Aprilia RSV4-R, which will be unveiled this weekend during the twelfth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship scheduled to take place on the Imola Circuit in Italy, is actually a budget version of the original RSV4 and the only thing confusing is simply the name.
Starting from the initial model, Aprilia has taken the all-new RSV4 through a process of removing all the expensive parts and replacing them with much cheaper ones. As a result, the fully-adjustable Ohlins front and rear suspension is gone and it is expected that so will be the carbon fibre fairing and lightweight wheels.
Overall, the 2010 Aprilia RSV4-R will weigh more and not be able to go as fast around bends as its much more expensive brother, but cost $19,600. Considering that this is a bike that buyers will most likely purchase for road use, we don’t think they’ll miss the ultra-expensive parts much and yet definitely appreciate the price.
The friends at MCN got their hands on the spy shots of the new Aprilia Tuono V4 and RSV4 R models and it looks like the bikes are very close to being launched. Both have been spotted during tests undergone on the Mugello track in Italy.
Although none of the two bikes is revolutionary, both being based on the Aprilia RSV 4 Factory, these photos reveal a few essential details.
The RSV 4 R model will follow his RSV 1000 R sibling, meaning that it will have cheaper parts than on the Factory. Affordability was a priority and, given the fact that the RSV 4 Factory now costs around $18,000, we can expect the R model to compete with the 2010 BMW S1000RR.
In order to reduce costs, Aprilia goes for Showa suspension instead of Ohlins, less exotic rims and gives up to different carbon fiber bits and pieces, but do manage to retain the Brembo monoblock calipers.
The Aprilia Tuono V4 carries on the tradition of the naked models built at the Noale factory, meaning that it features stripped bodywork, straight handlebar and a strange looking headlight.
Given the fact that this year’s Paris Moto Show was canceled and the next Intermot edition in Germany is scheduled to take place in 2010, the Italians are left with an only option to launch the new models: EICMA 2009.
We rarely get to see an entirely new and truly amazing addition to the supersport category, but the year 2009 has been very bountiful from this point of view and, at least now, nobody has reasons to complain. While Japan carried on the refinement side, manufacturers in Europe concentrated on adding new, fierce competitors to challenge the old square in Japan. Ducati was already a strong player on the market, BMW introduced their all-new and extremely potent S 1000 RR and Aprilia comes with a unique recipe for success, one that is resumed by the RSV4 Factory model name.
Features such as the new 65-degree V4 engine displacing 999.6cc and the new ride-by-wire engine management system as well as the multi-adjustable perimetral aluminum alloy frame and Öhlins Racing suspension are sure to position the 2009 Aprilia RSV4 Factory on a well-deserved place in the top three greatest liter bikes on the market today.
The RSV4 is being launched this week so Aprilia releases the promotional video of their all-new superbike just so that they have some track action to play on and on again at the world launch.
Ordering an Aprilia RSV4 can be as easy as checking your mail as long as you’ve got a great will to buy one and £2000 for a down payment. It’s really that easy. All that future owners have to do is go to the Aprilia RSV4 dedicated webside and place their orders. Then, they have to make a £2000 deposit at the local dealer and count the days until their new acquisition arrives.
All those interested should hurry up as the first 10 RSV4s already have names on them. It seems that the much awaited Italian bike brings that refreshing feel of a totally different engine (at least that’s what we think it sells best).
Piaggio Group USA President and CEO Paolo Timoni told Hell for Leather how the Aprilia RSV4 will eventually be sold in the United States during the final quarter of 2009. Although first revealed last September, Aprilia’s 180bhp, 85lb/ft, 179 kg (dry) superbike barely makes it for the 2009 introduction and mostly because of SBK homologation requirements. Accordingly to these, a returning manufacturer must build at least 250 units for initial homologation and 1000 units by June of the first year in racing and that’s precisely the scenario we’re witnessing.
Independently of their motives for introducing the Factory version of the RSV4 till the end of the year, we’re extremely happy to find a potent European contender going against the dominating Japanese crowd.
Aprilia has just presented the final graphic version of their RSV4 superbike that will debut in the World Superbike Championship this weekend. As seen, Aprilia makes an entry on the WSBK scene without the help of a main sponsor so the fairing displays the traditional colors of the Italian company, the most visible logos being RSV4 and Aprilia.
Recent test have shown that the new Italian V4 is capable of great performances and with the help of Shinya Nakano and Max Biaggi, the Noale house aims towards as much presences on the podium as possible.
It is now less than a month until the WSB championship will debut on March 1st and the factory Aprilia World Superbike team makes the final optimizing of their all new Aprilia RSV4 basing on the wind tunnel results.
Aprilia race technicians are trying to find ways of improving both bike and rider aerodynamics in the 2009 racing season and, obviously, they needed a rider. So who better (for the moment) to tuck into RSV4’s fairing than Shinya Nakano? The Japanese rider spend a day in the wind tunnel at the Department of Industrial engineering at the University of Perugia, Italy and has shared his impressions.
Nakano said: "It has been a very positive and interesting experience and I was impressed by the ability of engineers and the staff at the University of Perugia.
"We conducted several tests on my riding position, making the last little adjustments to obtain the best possible aerodynamics. The data that we collected will work to bring new solutions during the course of the season.
"I have to say that the current aerodynamics of the RSV4 are already good and did not need any immediate action.”
Shinya Nakano now completes Aprilia’s team for the 2009 World Superbike Championship after signing a contract for 2009 with the possibility to carry over to 2010. The event took place yesterday after the racer visited the Racing Department of Noale. Apparently, that wasn’t a tough decision to take as the idea of racing side by side with Max Biaggi thrills Nakano.
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