| New price | £12,449 |
|---|---|
| Engine size | 998cc |
| Power | 180bhp |
| Top speed | 180mph |
| Insurance group | 17 |
Aprilia’s RSV4R is a added affordable adaptation of the all-singing, all-dancing RSV4 Factory. The agent is basically the same, after some of the Factory’s avant-garde electronics, but the anatomy genitalia are hardly lower-spec. Despite this it’s still a beautifully-balanced technology-packed Italian missile. It’s monstrously fast, gives you endless of aplomb in the corners, has superb ride quality, looks abundant (especially the new white livery), sounds alike bigger and is massive fun. It’s a bristles brilliant bike but problems with adulterated con rods at the barrage beggarly we’ve accustomed it four stars.
Engine
Engine
The RSV4 R’s liquid-cooled 999.6cc, 16v, 65° V4 motor is the same as the one found in the Factory model. It produces a claimed 180bhp and 85ftlb of torque. The engine itself is actually smaller than the old RSV twin cylinder lump. It has six-speed cassette gearbox and a slipper clutch as standard as well as a ride-by-wire throttle system and a choice of three engine maps. It does without the electronically-controlled variable inlet stacks of the Factory model.
Ride and Handling
Ride and Handling
Where the Factory model runs Ohlins, the RSV4 R has fully adjustable Showa forks, and a Sachs rear shock and steering damper. It also has heavier cast instead of forged ali wheels, all of which has pushed the all-up weight 4kg more than the Factory. Despite the extra weight and lower-spec suspension, the RSV4 R is still an incredibly-balanced, fine-handling machine and can be set-up to suit all tyres of riding conditions. With super-strong Brembo monobloc brakes and a slipper clutch smoothing out corner entries, the Aprilia is a devastating track tool.
Equipment
Equipment
The RSV4R still has a high level of equipment. You get sticky Metzeler Interact K3 rubber as standard, together with a beautifully made aluminium frame and swingarm, fully adjustable suspension and steering damper, Brembo brakes and a three-way power map. The whole package is exquisitely built.
Quality and Reliability
Aprilia’s are usually superbly built and have bulletproof reliability, but launch bikes suffered a problem with conrods breaking. These were the first 30 pre-production machines to be built and the problem was traced to a faulty batch of conrods. Aprilia say this problem has been rectified and production bikes will be as reliable as the RSV4 Factory models already built.
Value
The RSV4R is £2500 cheaper than the RSV4 Factory and £500 cheaper than the base model Ducati 1198. It’s still an exotic superbike, so it’s never going to be in the same price bracket as a Japanese 1000, but for a devilishly fast, superb handling Italian superbike we think it’s worth every penny.
Quality and Reliability
Aprilia’s are usually superbly built and have bulletproof reliability, but launch bikes suffered a problem with conrods breaking. These were the first 30 pre-production machines to be built and the problem was traced to a faulty batch of conrods. Aprilia say this problem has been rectified and production bikes will be as reliable as the RSV4 Factory models already built.
Value
The RSV4R is £2500 cheaper than the RSV4 Factory and £500 cheaper than the base model Ducati 1198. It’s still an exotic superbike, so it’s never going to be in the same price bracket as a Japanese 1000, but for a devilishly fast, superb handling Italian superbike we think it’s worth every penny.
