Motorcycle specifications Aprilia1000 RSV4 RR 2016 An SBK princess becomes a queen

As soon as it was launched, the Aprilia RSV4 earned a reputation as a near-perfect racing machine. The only hypersport powered by a 4-cylinder V-twin, a real tool for the racetrack, top-level efficiency and, what's more, a beautiful, racy machine, Noale's sports bike was the stuff of praise and almost fantasy. A taste of Superbike over the counter!

the only concern (and still) was sheer power. The V4 delivers big, really big, but not enough to go head-to-head with the 200-strong Kawasaki ZX-10R, which wins just about everything. In 2015, Aprilia corrects this shortcoming by boosting the engine and making a number of general improvements. The missile wants to hit harder, and is now called the RSV4 RR. Just another little letter? This extra R is synonymous with 17 extra horses in the boiler and bits of Factory. With these extra watts, this 1000 proudly announces 201 hp at 13,000 rpm. And it enters the circle of demonic power. Yesterday, there were only two or three exceptional machines to spit out so much power (Desmosedici RR, 1199 Superleggera , F4 CC,...). Now, in 2015, it's the norm (Aprilia RSV4 RR, YamahaR1, Kawasaki ZX-10R, Ducati 1299, MV-Agusta F4 1000 RR, BMW S 1000 RR).

how did the Noale engine gain so many watts? With a host of small improvements. Engineers reduced internal friction, improved combustion, increased maximum rpm, changed the airbox, installed new top injectors and fine-tuned the intake. The ducts have been redesigned and, for the first time on a production bike, each variable intake module is managed independently. This solution comes from WSBK, and gives each cylinder perfect control over intake. All valves are now made of titanium, with the intake valve now 33 mm in diameter. New camshafts save 500g, internal lubrication is revised, Pankl connecting rods lose a total of 400g, the entire exhaust system is redesigned, and a more powerful ECU handles engine management. The gearbox has also been reworked, with ratios optimized for the new V4 potato. The gain is not just in power, but also in weight: the block has lost a total of 1.5 kg. A whole series of small improvements have been made, from new valve springs to the gearbox. 201 units of cavalry, even with 4 manufacturers' World Superbike titles in the last 5 years, takes a lot of engine-building work to find, right down to the last detail.

having an even bigger heart had almost no influence on the RSV4's design. It was already a beautiful machine, so Aprilia didn't take any risks, simply redesigning the face of its flagship with a certain gentleness. A new design for the rear-view mirrors and inlaid indicators, a barely touched-up lower fairing... It's mainly the triple headlamp that has evolved - the side eyes are less stretched, and the position light is LED - and the upper part of the fairing. Protection should gain (a little) in efficiency, but the gain has been designed above all for aerodynamics. Comfort is not the RSV4 RR's priority, but rather total mastery of the track. So much so, in fact, that it borrows elements from the ex-Factory version and add to its electronics.

In a way, this evolution has eaten into the old Premium version of the RSV4. As we saw earlier, the RSV4-RR now handles variable intake in an even better way. This technique was previously reserved for the RSV4 de luxe, as were the magnesium crankcases. These factory-typical features are now part of the standard equipment. The aluminum perimeter frame, for example, can now also be used to modify engine position, caster angle and swingarm pivot point. The swingarm has been lengthened by 14 mm for optimum traction. A series of exclusive refinements that no competitor offers. But no Öhlins suspension or forged wheels as standard. These delicacies are now available in an optional "Race Pack" - or on the RF special series.
Suspension on the RSV4 RR is provided by Sachs, and is of course fully adjustable. As always, Brembo takes care of the brakes. The M430 calipers are retained, biting 320 mm tracks. The rear wheel and its large 200 mm tire will be eased by a 220 mm disc and double-piston caliper. With the addition of a Bosch 9MP Race ABS, there's no need to worry about slowing down the Italian rocket's 180 kilos (dry weight). The anti-lock braking system weighs just 2 kilos, comes as standard with the APRC package, and can be set to 3 levels or deactivated. Each of these levels can be combined with the 3 driving modes offered by Aprilia. On-board electronics have even been enhanced with an engine brake management system.

by being one of the first to offer a serious package of riding aids, Aprilia further reduced the boundary between production sports bikes and track machines. Aprilia's involvement and victories in the World Superbike Championship make it one hell of a laboratory. The Aprilia Performance Ride Control has been improved, made more progressive and adjusted to the new performance levels the RSV4 1000 RR is capable of. Chips and sensors accompany you with 8-step traction control (adjustable at any time and deactivatable), 3-setting anti-wheeling, shifter, and 3-position Launch Control to optimize track starts.
The RSV4 still offers 3 fuel injection mappings (Road, Sport and Track) with self-explanatory names; by becoming RR, it adds the RACE mode, even more typical of top-level riding. Stay in the silicon and look at your smartphone. Sometimes you use it to make a phone call, often to surf the web and browse apps, and with Aprilia, it's about to become your on-board telemetry technician. The V4-MP kit allows you not only to check your performance via data acquisition, but also to intervene directly on the machine. Mind you, this is almost science fiction: thanks to the phone's GPS and active configuration, the system recognizes the bike's position on the track and can modify the settings of the electronic assistances according to the bend. There's even a race assistant that can provide real-time advice to improve lap times.

the RSV4 was considered a track diva, descended for some from the RC30. By becoming an RR, it combines all the assets to become the scarecrow of the category. With the magic of the V4, top-end power, electronics from Aprilia's SBK stand and pure racebike design, the 1000 RSV4 RR is a track bike that could give a eunuch a hard-on.
To make the experience even more exhilarating, Aprilia has also launched the RF, a limited edition of 500 bikes. It features the Race Pack as original equipment, and a design inspired by the official team.

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