Last week we made a post regarding the new Aprilia Tuono V4, which was caught testing at the Mugello track and although we pretty much figured out the bike then, these latest spy pics of the same bike at Misano come to complete what we earlier wrote about this Italian piece of machinery.
As you can now better see, the bike is no more or less than a naked Aprilia RSV4 R, but we can now get a better glimpse of the small headlight unit and the exhaust, which looks like a modified rocket launcher. The bike is expected to feature a little bit of plastic on the sides, but nothing to set it way apart from these shots. They actually look like made by the Italian manufacturer itself.
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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.
Two sophisticated Aprilias that are built for lots of fun, practicability, and teaching beginners how to ride: the 2009 RX 50 and SX 50 meet their purposes with excellence and situate themselves in a class of their own.
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Aprilia carries on the production of their latest Supermoto and Enduro 125cc models, the SX 125 and RX 125, in 2009. Currently not new in the lineup, but radically improved, the models announced a whole new kind of fun both on dirt tracks and on paved ones with the occasion of last year’s revision. Now, we got the chance to swing a leg over each model and couldn’t be more impressed, given the category.
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Aprilia came across a unique recipe for the enduro/supermoto world, one that enables their riders to rule the trails as well as the supermoto competitions in the same time. The big secret is the 450/550cc V-twin motor found on the RXV models and on the much more interesting and versatile SXV ones that now got our attention.
Although the transformation from an off-road bike into a super motard is rather facile, Aprilia went the whole way and created completely new rides in order to dominate the tracks. Furthermore, the SXV 2008 VDB Replica comes as a purely competition motorcycle born from the need to deliver the very best of engine performance and chassis refinement, the results being even elbow scratching 90-degree turns.
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Designer Dario Caroselli has recently come up with a very aggressive naked motorcycle concept based on the Aprilia Shiver 750, a veritable Italian naked built around a V-twin engine. Called simply Aprilia Naked, the concept bike features compact bodywork and solo seat, while being defined by the lines and color schemes of the original bike.
We’re quite impressed by this concept although we must admit that it isn’t quite in strict accordance with the naked style, but simply a production bike taken to the extreme.
If you’re looking for the classic example of an Italian naked, then look no further than the 2009 Aprilia Shiver 750/ABS. Light, powerful and very stylish, the Shiver is built to take on the city streets and mountain passes alike, managing to turn heads everywhere it is taken thanks to those high-end looks.
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Italy provides some of the most beautiful, high-performing examples of naked extravaganza (at least in what motorcycles are concerned), machines that end up setting the trend in their category and which will undoubtably end up museum pieces once their era is gone (yep, that’s hard to believe for me too).
Two such machines are built by Aprilia, the Tuono 1000 R and the Tuono 1000 R Factory, and are claimed to be leaders of their class as a result of being derived from their superbike siblings, the RSV4 and the RSV4 Factory. While we haven’t yet tested these bikes, we must say that the performance numbers (139hp and 107 Nm) speak for themselves.
Aprilia offers the Tuono 1000 R as a base model and the Factory version is no more than a lighter one as a result of being fitted with Ohlins suspensions and different carbon fiber pieces.
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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.
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Aprilia has recently presented the official promotional clip for the Mana 850 GT model, which was launched during last year’s Intermot show in Germany.
The 850 GT is the touring version of the Mana 850, the first production motorcycle to feature an automatic transmission, and it stands out thanks to a half fairing and a large windscreen, both meant to enhance comfort during long and fast journeys.
An ABS version of the Aprilia Mana 850 GT is also available. The system was developed by Continental and is found on most Aprilia street models.
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