2009 Aprilia RSV4 Factory and racebike, first pictures!
From Italy we have these pictures of the production ready version of the RSV4 and also of the race ready superbike. This is the highly anticipated V4 1000cc superbike set to replace the old RSV 1000 R. We have heard that the standard and Factory version features a 180 horsepower engine whilst the racebike more than 210hp. UPDATED 20+ detailed images: More big and beautiful pictures here! TS Have you got news for us? E-mail Raptors & Rockets first
2009 Aprilia SL1200 Shiver & SMV1200 Dorsoduro!
Recently I spoke with Aprilia about the new 1200cc V-twin that is the next big news from Noale along with the V4 race bike. I got both a 1200cc Shiver and Dorsoduro confirmed by a reliable factory source. It'll be the same motorcycles with the same frames (as this has been developed also with the 1200 in mind from the start) but with the new 1200 V-twin. I am not sure whether Aprilia will launch both models at the same time or just one at a time, but certainly one of them will be a 2009 model. We then had these mock-ups made to illustrate. Tor Sagen/CG: Luc1
2008 Aprilia SMV750 Dorsoduro, first launch report & video!
I am now back from the outskirts of Rome at the Aprilia Dorsoduro launch. The new Aprilia street supermoto is aimed at the true hooligans amongst us and there's no soft approaches to the concept. For that you've got the Shiver. The white version we first saw at the Milan show is destined to become the Factory version. Now Aprilia offers the Dorsoduro in Black, Silver and red first. There'll be an update number 2 soon... Tor Sagen
2008 Aprilia RSV4 Superbike launched! 27 pictures and video!
On February 22nd the RSV4 was unveiled for the first time at the Piaggio group convention in Milan. More than 1.200 Aprilia dealers attended the event. The RSV4 shown in Milan is the race machine and not the production version. The V4 is tilted at 65 degrees and the displacement is 1000 cc. Aprilia further states that it is the most powerful and innovative engine Noale have ever built. It will boast with more than 200 horsepower in race trim. The production version is said to be ready by the end of 2008. In 2009 Aprilia will race this bike in the world superbike championship hoping to finally build on its successes in the 125 and 250 GP classes. The engine uses integral ride-by-wire and we expect a very sophisticated engine management system. The 65 degree V4 was also chosen to utilize Aprilia’s extensive know how in producing a race chassis around narrow V-engines. The new V4 is even more compact than the current V60 used in the RSV models. Aprilia will use fly-by-wire technology with wiring never seen on any motorcycle before. The fuel management system is very advanced where servo motors only operate its own row of cylinders throttle bodies. This has been done to optimise high power engine management. This is needed when the V4 spins around at a maximum 13.500rpm. The details Aprilia released are as follows: projected to produce more than 210bhp @ 13.500rpm, 999cc, 65degree V4, 4 titanium and pneumonic valves per cylinder, six-speed cassette type gearbox and fly-by-wire ready ECU from Magnet Marelli. See and hear how the roaring V4 sounds like here. Leo Mercanti revs it up and looks very happy with the new Aprilia creation. Tor Sagen
Aprilia have developed the bike that they promised us that they would at the Shiver 750 launch earlier this year. The 95bhp 750 V-twin will power Aprilia's take at the big motard scene. New is a second generation ride-by-wire throttle, all new design and Supermotard derived riding characteristics. More soon...
Aprilia FV 1200
2007/08 Aprilia RXV4.5/5.5 launch-The lion has been tamed (only a little…)
When Paul Walker from Aprilia called me to see if I was interested in a rendezvous with the brutal V-twin RXV’s I had to say yes. I rode the bikes at the world launch in Sicily earlier in 2006. Already at the end of 2006 the 2007/08 models are ready with improvements. I rode the new models around a castle in the English countryside.
Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Ian Jubb/MCN, Tor Sagen & Milagro (06 shots)
Just arrived back from the international launch of the SL750 Shiver in Italy. First impressions are that of a very much Italian naked motorcycle. Chassis, suspension and brakes are all of the very best'ish (because there's a Factory version coming off course...) quality. The Ride by wire system is a first on a naked mainstream motorcycle and actually more advanced than on the Yamaha R6... 2 ECU units, one slave for the other with safety features that should be bullet-proof and a powerful computer provides torque at all times. At a UK retail price of around £5.500 the Shiver should be able to make the Japanese competition Shiver indeed! Everything about the bike, pictures, videos and much more coming next... Raptors & Rockets knows about three different projects deriving from the Shiver (we've already told you about one that was a scoop) and then you've got the SL1200... Oh, and did I mention that we have got top secret and very exclusive information about the V4 race bike too... Coming soon... Tor
2008 Aprilia SL750 Motard
The next project for the new V90 Shiver platform will be a big supermoto, Ducati Hypermotard style.
I asked my Aprilia factory insider whether Aprilia would use the V60 engine in such a project, but was then told that Aprilia will use the V90 750cc engine from the new SL 750 Shiver as it suits such a bike better according to Aprilia. Aprilia are also considering a version of the Shiver with fairing. My source also told me that the SL 750 Shiver could have been called the Tuono 750, but since the styling is new Aprilia chose to call it Shiver. Aprilia also confirmed that there will be no small Tuono in the future. My source wishes to be anonymous but my suspicions are that Aprilia might have developed at least a 1000cc version of the SL 750 90 degree V-twin
Performance wise I am not sure whether this engine can top the current RSV1000 V60 already, but if Aprilia have boosted the engine size to around 1200cc this engine could probably be used also in a new RSV. Aprilia's only comment to this is that the firm will continue with V2 (not specified whether it would be V60 or V90...) and V4 engines. That brings us to the V4 superbike again. My source tells me that the development is on schedule. So much on schedule that the bike will race in 2008. But only race as the roadbike has been delayed at least one year. Aprilia will show us the race bike when it is ready, most likely at the 2007 Eicma exhibition in Milan, but no roadbike until earliest 2008. This again could hint at an all new RSV R roadbike for next year. By: Tor Sagen/CG work: Luc1 and Robert O'Brien
We will attend the SL 750 Shiver world launch in mid May and Mana 850 in late July this year.
Scoop: Aprilia has its own Hypermotard!
Based on the soon to be launched, SL 750 Shiver, Aprilia have already designed its own super sized supermoto. It will get the new 90 degree V-twin engine from Shiver and we believe a big-bore version is just around the corner... We have more exclusive info on this to be published later. We will test the new SL 750 Shiver in May at the world launch. By: Tor Sagen
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