Month April 2009 Aprilia RSV4 Factory launched, the new V4, 1000 cc Superbike designed to take the head of the Big Four Japanese superbikes.
In terms of performance there is no doubt it's true there with the best of them, in the second game of power and handling.
But the factory was a very high spec version of this bike, with top quality Öhlins suspension and a wide array of chassis adjustments, to the position of the shaft suspension.
This is needed to validate the engine Aprilia's World Superbike race, Max Biaggi who reached the fourth place in the WSB championship in 2009, very impressive for a new team with brand new bike.
Factory Aprilia says is aimed at motorists most interested in track days or racing, which because it has introduced the R RSV4, low-specification, lower price version pitched more toward mainstream Superbike.
In essence, though, is the same V4 engine power plant, in the same country songs. That means you get the same sound noble, it was hard too, thanks to the cover on the exhaust system only when the emission of noise quietens bike gentlemen who take their measurements, then allows for the remaining time to breathe more freely.
Throttle response is electric, literally and metaphorically, because this is a full fly-by-wire systems, and only occasionally have a bit of remoteness, especially at lower revs.
If not, as touching as well as physical cable set-up and there are a lot of torque to play with the entire range of rotation, although it does not have any hard drive Yamaha R1.
Early in 2009 this machine was fast as anything out there, shout your way to the red line with great power, but now BMW S 1000 RR has arrived and the landscape has changed.
Italian bikes are still breathtakingly fast, make no mistake, but do not have that hit the peak horsepower lately that distinguish the newer BMW - it's slower, although certainly not slow. And it's not as though the German engines provide any lower in the rev range either.
This chassis RSV4 is distinguished as much as anything to do with size, or rather lack of it. This bike is very compact, so much so that taller riders may delay their purchase.
I dealt with the position up but I realized that was too thin on the bike - tucked right behind the screen is not really possible on my 6ft 3in, but the average size of the rider should not have problems.
Positive side of this is that bike agility. Change direction quickly and vigorously, then holding a very tight line even with the flood of power within, to the point where the front wheel started to lift and it would start running wide.
R get Showa suspension with a lower cost than the factory's Öhlins, but you will struggle to see the difference in most situations. Set-up is soft as a standard test track and on the back of the bike was pitching too much out of the corners at high speed at first, but the adjusters do their job and the bike becomes taut and precise.
The main difference between the Öhlins and Showa not so much the performance as the adjustment range available, and as long as you stay within the usual you really do not lose anything.
At the edge of the wheel cornering ability Factory RSV4's forged aluminum will respond better to bump and change the direction of the R's heavy cast, but here in the real world it makes no difference.
And those are the main differences between R and Factory, along with facilities at more expensive version to adjust the steering angle and the head suspension pivot position.
If you ever felt frustrated by not able to do on a bike path, you really should be on the track alone: I can not imagine that the street riders never lost this feature.
That means that although you are saving some £ 2,500 by buying the R, not a factory, you do not experience significant loss of performance or loss of any useful specification.
Also you get the same engine capable of as typical Japanese Superbike - Aprilia possible level of reliability is not quite up to Japanese standards, but they are not far away and of course quite acceptable.
That means this problem is the price. R RSV4 little cost less than a R1 (subject to big price increase for 2010) and about £ 2,000 more than the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.
While it might be faster than the Ninja at the track, the margin was not large, and Yamaha will be a game. Then there's BMW, which in basic form is less than £ 11,000, and even kitted with traction control and ABS race, still cost less than the basic model Aprilia.
And substantially faster, with more natural treatment ... You must really want the Aprilia does not put your money in the German bicycle.
FACT
PRICE / AVAILABILITY From £ 12,449. In January 2010 sales
POWER / TORQUE 177bhp@12.500 rpm/85lb ft@10.000 rpm
TOP SPEED 180mph (est)
Fuel TANK / RANGE gallons/140 3.7 miles (est)
This penalty verdict, very Superbike able to burn to match the performance of most of its competitors, but not the price to beat them
RATING Telegraph Four out of five
THE rival
BMW S 1000 RR Sport £ 12.235
Significantly faster, a little lighter than the Aprilia and with a far superior specification including traction control and ABS race. Without this, the stock version £ 1500 cheaper. Either way, it's hard to go for the Aprilia, but if you do not want a BMW.
Yamaha R1 12.684 GBP
Price R1 has nudged ahead Aprilia £ 1500 because of an increase driven by the strong euro. From the Japanese bikes, characterful R1 R RSV4 will provide the most difficult time in terms of performance, particularly how to drive out the corners.
Honda Fireblade ABS £ 10.971
Honda's 2010 price increase was much smaller than the seminal Fireblade Yamaha and offer the same level of performance, Honda build quality, a journey, it's easy nature and brake-by-wire brake impressive choice of ABS and balance system 600 pounds. The Fireblade is also more suitable for taller riders.
Aprilia RSV4 R specifications
Engine type: 4 cylinders, 4-stroke, 65 ° V4
Displacement: 998 cc (60.98 cubic inches)
Bore × stroke: 78 mm × 52 mm (oversquare - shortstroke)
Cooling system: Water cooled
Power: 167.23 HP (123 kW) @ 12 500 rpm
Torque: 115 Nm (11.73 kg-m) @ 10 000 rpm
Throttle: Cable operated
Valves
Valve train: DOHC, variable
Valves per cylinder: 4
Fuel and ignition
Sparks per cylinder: 1
Fuel supply system: Fuel injection
Ignition type: TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition)
Compression: 12:1
Engine mounting: Transverse
Lubrication system: Wet sump
Gear box: Manual
Clutch: Wet, multiple discs, cable operated
Final drive: Chain
Spark plug pipe type: NGK
Motor Oil: Synthetic
Starter: Electric
Dimensions
Wheel base: 1424 mm
Trail: 102 mm
Seat height: 845 mm
Weight
Curb weight: 179 kg
Chassis and suspension
Front
Suspension: Cartridge - upside-down
Suspension travel: 120 mm
Fork angle: 65 °
Brake: Twin Disc, Ø320 mm
Tire: 120/70 R17
Rear
Suspension: mono shock, Swingarm
Suspension travel: 130 mm
Brake: Disk, Ø220 mm
Tire: 190/55 R17
Aprilia RSV4 Base
Harley Davidson Sportster
