Misano Motor Boating

Misano Motor Boating

ROUNDUP

Mother Nature can’t keep us off Aprilla’s new RSV4

DON CANET

STORMY WEATHER AND SLICK track conditions greeted members of the international motopress gathered at the Misano World Circuit for a splish-splash, slip-n-slide ride aboard the Aprilia RSV4 Factory. Credit Aprilia for the wise fitment of Pirelli Diablo Rain racing radials and the uncanny tractability of the Aprilia V-Four engine (with its tri-map, fly-by-wire engine management toggled to a state of reduced power and response) for keeping my boxers dry. Despite the boost in confidence offered by rain rubber and electronics, a steady throttle hand remained a must, as nine testers took a surf-n-turf tumble!

A decade ago, I attended Aprilia’s firstever sportbike launch. The RSV Mille was an ambitious venture for the Italian scooter-maker, which, despite a proven track record in 125 and 250cc Grand Prix racing, had no history with fullsize, four-stroke sportbikes. At the time,

I arrived with very few expectations but left in awe of the 998cc, V-Twin-powered superbike, a motorcycle ready for prime time right out of the blocks.

While little doubt remains these days as to the Italian company’s capacity to deliver refined, competitive and inspiring performance, the RSV4 represents yet another bold step for Aprilia. Powering the new model is a cutting-edge, lOOOcc V-Four engine that not only marks a departure from the proven Rotax-designed Twin of previous RSV machines but Aprilia’s arrival as a proprietary designer of high-performance engines. The company claims to haye invested $33 million in engine development alone. Reading between the lines, I think it’s safe to say this expenditure will be amortized through a varied family of V-Four models moving forward.

First off the production line (likely to homologate it for World Superbike) is the flagship Factory edition, equipped with a cassette transmission, Öhlins suspension, forged alloy wheels and more chassis adjustments than the average street guy is ever likely to use. Fact is, while the Factory model’s frame allows adjustments to its head-stock position, steering-head angle and swingarm-pivot location, and even facilitates repositioning of the engine, these adjustments are intended for racing use. The default settings are optimized for the street and are identical to those of the non-adjustable standard RSV4R-also scheduled to reach American dealerships this fall as an early release 2010 model and expected to be priced lower than Ducati’s 1198.

From the very beginning, this bike has been a collaborative effort between Aprilia’s research-and-development and racing departments. The multiadjustable frame addresses the needs of each without compromise to either. An example: Testing revealed a need to maintain a specific percentage of weight on the front wheel for racing (52 front/48 rear bias is standard), easily achieved by moving the racebike’s steering head rearward. Likewise, lowering the engine in the frame counters the shift in the center-of-gravity brought about by use of lightweight racing wheels, brakes and exhaust. Forward thinking, to be sure.

While finding the RSV4’s handling limits was impossible due to the track conditions, I gained a general feel for other aspects of the bike. Its 65-degree V-Four is very compact (similar in width to the RSV Twin), allowing a slim and aerodynamically efficient motorcycle. Despite the bike’s diminutive stature, its sporting ergonomics are roomy; this, combined with the smooth-running nature of the counterbalanced mill, suggests excellent comfort on the street. Power delivery is very linear in each of the three modes: Track, Sport and Road. The Road setting notably softens engine response in all six ratios and reduces peak horsepower from a claimed 180 down to 140. Sport mode reduces power output and response to a lesser degree-but only in the bottom three cogs. The unadulterated delivery of Track mode proved a bit abrupt for the conditions, so I have yet to truly wring her out.

Upshifts were positive, albeit a little notchy in feel. The electronic throttle is programmed to remain slightly open during hard deceleration to help reduce engine-braking effect and works along with a conventional ramp-style slipper clutch.

Despite having limited seat time in terrible conditions, I came away with feelings similar to those of a decade ago: very impressed with the small company from Noale. Aprilia continues to build excellent and innovative motorcycles like the RSV4 and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. □