Motorcycle specifications ApriliaRSV4 1100 Factory 2023 In pursuit of fire

The Aprilia RSV4 is one of those motorcycles whose greatness can't be overstated. Because it's beautiful, it's got an engine that takes you by storm, it's got astonishing potential, it swallows curves at the speed of sound, it's got the heart of Italy beating in its arteries..

Everything you need to have a mixture of fire and adrenalin in every rider's hands. All the more so as the V4 has eaten up the Euro5 without losing a drop of power. 217 horsepower on tap, ready to smash the straightaway into your ribcage. As an added bonus, a tablespoonful of displacement (+ 21 cm3) add a few Nm of torque and power values reached a little earlier in the engine's rev range.

At the top of the range, the Factory version is here to optimize performance. The engine remains untouched, already bursting with watts. It's the chassis and graphics that really come into their own. In contrast to the neutrality of the standard RSV4, the Factory comes in more suggestive, bloodier, racing colors. It's a shame, though, that the Akrapovic exhaust system has not been renewed. The soundtrack, though already melodious, only deserves to be even more enchanting.

Let's move on to the equipment itself. True to tradition, the Factory is equipped with lightweight forged aluminum wheels. A plus for agility, given the weight savings on unsprung masses.
The other key point is the Öhlins equipment. The front is fitted with a 43 mm NIX inverted fork, while the rear is equipped with a TTX shock absorber, both featuring semi-active Smart EC 2.0 technology.
Everything is adjustable (compression - preload - rebound) in automatic or manual mode. In auto, you select one of the 3 modes, then the electronics recognize the steering phases and adapt the damping accordingly. In A1 mode, the control unit calibrates the elements for track use on slick tires; A2 mode is for driving on less exclusive tires, on more or less even surfaces; A3 is more road-oriented, with freer hydraulics.
In manual mode, 3 maps are also available, but without dynamic assistance. With M1, M2 and M3 modes, the profiles are similar to those of the A models, except that the settings do not adapt continuously. Afterwards, the rider can fine-tune each setting to suit his or her feeling and XP.

Everything is set on the steering wheel and via the OBTi interface on the 5" TFT screen. From there, it's a veritable fighter jet. In addition to the electronically controlled Öhlins suspension and steering damper, the RSV4 1100 is packed with assistance features: two-way shifter, 6 riding modes (3 track - 3 road), several engine maps, traction control, engine brake control, wheelie control, start assist, pit lane speed limiter, cornering ABS, anti-stoppie and cruise control. It's a big package called APRC, now in its 5th generation.

The Factory has gained 3 kilos since the previous generation. But it has gained a more aerodynamic, more protective fairing, integrated winglets, LED signature headlights with cornering light function, a 9 mm lower seat thanks to the shape of the new tank, footrests lowered by 1 cm and a wheelbase a hair shorter.

the chassis has evolved mainly in terms of the swingarm. The reinforcement now runs underneath, while the simplification of the welded elements has saved 600 grams. This scheme increases rigidity by 30%. As for the frame, it retains its qualities and the (rare) possibility of repositioning the engine, modifying the column angle and the height of the swingarm pivot point. Braking remains Dantesque, with its 330 mm tracks gniaked by Brembo Stylema calipers. To optimize cooling, Aprilia offers ducts as accessories to channel air to these monobloc clamps. As usual, the rear brake serves mainly as a "retarder" and trajectory corrector, with its 220 mm disc backed up by a 2-piston caliper.

The Factory is one step closer to the grail it has set itself: hellish efficiency on the track. Shrugging off all "competition" constraints sinceits switch to the 1100 (2019), this meteor is making spirited progress as its silhouette becomes more dynamic. The RSV4s embark on a new generation with a feverish fairing, and while it's easy to grin and bear it, knowing that an RSV4 Factory no longer has an exhaust that shows off its signature or that carbon parts are no longer invited, the smile returns with the efficiency that Noale's most accomplished hypersports machine is capable of. Like the standard RSV4, this Factory can no longer compete in the racetrack; it's all about the pleasure of the track, with nothing else at stake, and with its own lap time in its sights. The Aprilia is one of today's best tools for getting the job done.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos