Aprilia RX50 (2006-current)

The Aprilia RX50 has the looks of a able enduro bike, but none of the performance. Restricted, it’ll attempt to breach 30mph, and de-restricted (illegal for 16 year-olds) it’ll top 50 eventually. The anatomy will cope with affable off-roading, but ride it harder and the RX50 will be out of its depth.

Engine
The Aprilia RX50 49cc two-stroke single engine is typical of the class – gutless. It needs revving hard and the clutch slipping to pull away, and you need to continue thrashing it. But as a first motorcycle, it’ll feel lightning quick – it’s all relative.

Ride and Handling
The RX50’s chassis is realistically best around town – try ride it off road and you’ll get sick of the suspension clanging in to its bump stops. The wide bars, lightweight and compliant suspension is perfect for urban riding, but the standard knobbly tyres will complain if you push too hard – buy the Aprilia SX50 with its supermoto-style road tyres if you don’t ride off road.

Equipment
The Aprilia RX50 is basic motorcycling – no storage, a riding position that makes no concession to comfort and a simple electronic dash displaying only basic information. There is a pillion seat – but only for the very stupid. The chassis looks nice, but is nothing special underneath the fancy façade.

Specifications

Top speed	50mph
1/4-mile acceleration	secs
Power	6bhp
Torque	9ftlb
Weight	92kg
Seat height	880mm
Fuel capacity	7 litres
Average fuel consumption	mpg
Tank range	miles
Insurance group	2

Engine size	50cc
Engine specification	Liquid-cooled, two-stroke single. Six gears.
Frame	Alloy beam
Front suspension adjustment	none
Rear suspension adjustment	none
Front brakes	260mm disc with two-piston sliding caliper
Rear brake	180mm disc with single-piston caliper
Front tyre size	1.85 x 21”
Rear tyre size	2.15 x 18”

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Aprilia RSV4 Factory (2009-current)

New price	£14,999
Engine size	998cc
Power	180bhp
Top speed	180mph
Insurance group	17

Engine

The Aprilia’s 65° V4 motor produces a claimed 180bhp@12,500rpm and 85ftlb@10,000rpm. It has a single block crankcase with integrated cylinder liners, titanium inlet valves and balance shaft. The six-speed cassette gearbox is removable, handy for racing and a slipper clutch comes as standard. Being a V4, the engine is incredibly small and has allowed Aprilia to make a tiny bike around it. There’s a good spread of linear power up to 10,000rpm and then it goes berserk up to 14,000rpm. This feels every inch a race engine and to get the very best out of it a dry, sunny racetrack is required. The engine note is similar to the deep, metallic boom of the RSV twin, it’s very loud in gear, but quiet in neutral, which is how it might have got through noise regulations.

Ride and Handling
The chassis feels just as racy as the engine. Ohlins forks and rear shock feel stiff when you hop aboard but are plush once on the move, soaking up the bumps in style and offer lots of support and composure for hard cornering. You get lots of feel through the chassis, nicely balanced steering and more grip than you’ll know what to do with on the road thanks to its standard fitment Pirelli Diablo Super Corsa SP tyres. Monobloc Brembos are race-spec and offer masses of stopping power and feel.

Equipment
The RSV4 is packed with toys, gadgets and trickery. There’s an evolution of Aprilia’s ride-by-wire system, which first appeared on their MotoGP racer and the Shiver road bike. The system allows a three-way engine map (track, sport and road) offering varying levels of power delivery from soft to extreme. The RSV4 also gets electronically controlled variable-length inlet trumpets, an exhaust power-valve and a new Magnetti Marelli ECU to control all the electronic systems. You also get Ohlins forks, shock and steering damper, a carbon fibre mudguard and hugger, forged aluminium wheels, Brembo monobloc radial brakes and sticky Pirelli Diablo Super Corsa SP tyres

Specifications

Top speed	180mph
1/4-mile acceleration	secs
Power	180bhp
Torque	85ftlb
Weight	203kg
Seat height	810mm
Fuel capacity	17 litres
Average fuel consumption	mpg
Tank range	miles
Insurance group	17

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Aprilia Shiver GT (2009-current)

The accepted Aprilia SL750 Shiver is aloof accession blue naked bike – but the simple accession of a allowance turns it in to one of the best Italian all rounders you can buy. The Shiver GT is actual competent, bond acumen with style, achievement and appearance for not a huge bulk of cash.

Engine

The Aprilia SL750 Shiver GT has a 750cc 90° v-twin purpose built for the Shiver (and the range of bikes to be derived from the Shiver). It’s by no means a lairy sports bike engine, but delivers a good spread of power and torque – plenty for road riding, and enough to enjoy a track day. Smooth at motorway speeds, the Shiver also returns 43mpg riding on a mix of high-speed motorway and A-roads. Snatchy injection at low revs and a flat power delivery.

Ride and Handling

Aprilia knows how to make a motorcycle handle well, and the Shiver GT benefits from that knowledge. Steering is precise without being twitchy or unstable, and the Shiver GT feels planted at any lean angle. Ground clearance is good, but the competent chassis means dragging the pegs isn’t too hard for a confident rider. Suspension is compliant and controlled, neither too soft or too harsh. The standard-fit Metzeler Sportec M3 tyres help.

Specifications

Top speed	130mph
1/4-mile acceleration	11 secs
Power	95bhp
Torque	60ftlb
Weight	189kg
Seat height	810mm
Fuel capacity	15 litres
Average fuel consumption	40mpg
Tank range	150 miles
Insurance group	15

Engine size	749cc
Engine specification	8-valve V-twin, 6 gears
Frame	Tubular steel trellis/cast aluminium
Front suspension adjustment	none
Rear suspension adjustment	Preload, rebound
Front brakes	2 x 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers
Rear brake	245mm disc, single piston caliper
Front tyre size	120/70 x 17
Rear tyre size	180/55 x 17

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Aprilia Mana GT (2009-current)

The £6999 Mana 850 GT ABS is a able bike and so abundant added than aloof a motorcycle with a big scooter engine. The new allowance and ABS add an added band of acumen and assurance to a amalgamation which seems accustomed on paper, and a bit addled to attending at, admittedly, but the Mana 850 GT ABS is actually absurd in absolute life.

Engine
The Aprilia Mana GT's 839.3cc V-twin has a CVT (continuously variable transmission), but also three ‘auto’ modes: Touring, Sport and Rain, to suit your mood and conditions. It can also be turned into an electronically controlled, semi-automatic seven-speed sequential gearbox with a flick of a button. It’s a willing lump and perfectly suits the effortless riding the clever transmission allows.

Ride and Handling
The Mana has a proper motorcycle frame, chunky swingarm, new 17-inch Pirelli Angel ST sports touring tyres, upside down forks and radial brakes. This lets the Aprilia glide over bumps, and brake and corner a thousand times better than a scooter. It’s so much fun.

Specifications

Top speed	120mph
1/4-mile acceleration	secs
Power	76bhp
Torque	54ftlb
Weight	227kg
Seat height	800mm
Fuel capacity	16 litres
Average fuel consumption	45mpg
Tank range	160 miles
Insurance group	13

Engine size	839cc
Engine specification	Longitudinal 90° V-twin engine, liquid cooled, SOHC with chain drive, 8v
Frame	Steel trellis
Front suspension adjustment	260 mm stainless steel disc. Single piston caliper
Rear suspension adjustment	n/a
Front brakes	Dual 320 mm stainless steel floating discs. Radial calipers with four pistons
Rear brake	260 mm stainless steel disc. Single piston caliper
Front tyre size	120/70 ZR 17
Rear tyre size	180/55 ZR 17

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