Aprilia RSV4 Unveiled

[Schneegz]

From Motorcycle Daily:

In front of a group of dealers in Milan earlier today, Aprilia unveiled its long-awaited RSV 4 -- the 1000cc v-four superbike which will form the basis for racing from 2009 onward. Here is a photo and the Aprilia press release.

MILAN, February 22, 2007 – The Aprilia RSV 4 “Race Machine” is unveiled for the first time.

The Aprilia Superbike, the bike which from 2009 will bring the Noale based company back to four-stroke racing, has been unveiled for the first time during the Piaggio Group Convention in Milan.

After the success in the 2007 World Championships with Aprilia riders and bikes dominating the 125 and 250 classes (winning all four titles, a repeat of the 2006 performance), the Veneto company gave a preview of the eagerly awaited RSV 4 “Race Machine”.

An extraordinary preview to a privileged audience of more than 1,200 dealers attending the International Piaggio Group Convention.

Four cylinders, 1000 cc, power of well over 200 HP in the race version, the new bike due to make its road debut by the end of 2008 will mark Aprilia's return to the World Superbike Championship in the 2009 season.

The Aprilia RSV 4 is driven by the most revolutionary and powerful engine ever built by Aprilia. A four-cylinder one litre 65° V engine -a layout making it unique among all the world's production engines -in which the most sophisticated engine engineering is combined with top quality materials and the most advanced electronic control technology.

The Aprilia engine in fact uses integral ride-by-wire technology, opening up new frontiers in managing such a powerful engine, with almost infinite possibilities for controlling power output and traction.

[DogBoy]

   That is one beautiful motorcycle.

[Outrace]

I can see the excitement in the audience.......  

[garry]

I would have expected a more modern exhaust. Something GP-style perhaps. That looks so 2002...

[DosEquis00]

Sharp looking bike and I like the exhaust note of the V4

[kurtw]

Fourono, anyone?

[thatguy]

I would have expected a more modern exhaust. Something GP-style perhaps. That looks so 2002...

This ain't a fashion show.

[Busy Little Whiner]

All reeeeeet Aprilia... I'm excited delighted and glad for your new V4...

Ok STN enjoy the V4 in your future... good luck keeping your butts out of jail... them V4s are
sneaky fast...

[falcofred]

I can see the excitement in the audience.......  

Yea, I don't see any riders or racers in the audience, I see bankers and lawyers. I'm sure the press release to moto journalists at a race track in some exotic location will be far more interesting.
I'm all for more competition in World Superbike. The first two races from Qatar are being broadcast on SPEED this afternoon. I've successfully avoided any internet sites announcing who won.

[Lon]

Wow, that thing's pretty!

Too bad I've got the itch for a new bike -- and it's more like a KLR than a VFR...  

[atadaskew]

"Mick, give him your wallet!"
"What for?"
"He's got a swingarm!"
"That's not a swingarm, *That's*a swingarm!"

[smileyman]

+1 on now one there being able to swing a hip over that Aprilia!

What's so great about a V4 anyhow

[veefer800canuck]

What's so great about a V4 anyhow

Uh-oh.......

[thatguy]

pssssssssssssssssssssssss

[spinalator]

I wonder if it passes California emissions. (giggle)

[Busy Little Whiner]

What's so great about a V4 anyhow

In other words a race bred V4 has 7 things going for it that an I4 Motor of Death can not match...

1) Cube-like crankcase are inherently more rigid than the longer,
beam-like case of an I4 engine.

2) Short V4 crankshaft weights less than an I4...

3)Short V4 crankshaft has less distance to travel and thus takes
physical effort to change direction than I4...

4) 90º V4 has perfect primary balance, a great improvement over
the buzzy, second-order vibration of an I4...

5) A narrow V4 affords up to a 35% reduction in aerodynamic drag over
the wide I4...

6) A V4 has less internal crank bearing friction and able to deliver
more rear wheel HP...

7) A V4 sports superior power delivery and able to achieve greater
tire grip...
 

[smileyman]

So know we know what spins your crank!  Aren't those square engine cases heavier and harder to locate in the frame though?  Perfect balance? I like a little "buzz" so other than basic harmonic durability what's the big advantage there? besides arent there plent of other engines that acheive perfect balance with a seperate shaft with acceptable BHP?

I love the VFR, think the RC30 was the dogs balls, apparently the RC45 went well so why aren't there more V4's?

[Busy Little Whiner]

So know we know what spins your crank!  Aren't those square engine cases heavier and harder to locate in the frame though?  Perfect balance? I like a little "buzz" so other than basic harmonic durability what's the big advantage there? besides arent there plent of other engines that acheive perfect balance with a seperate shaft with acceptable BHP?

I love the VFR, think the RC30 was the dogs balls, apparently the RC45 went well so why aren't there more V4's?

Because of their cube block construction V4s can be made lighter than either I4s or V2s...

You like buzz but your engine parts don't... because as RPM rise parts misaligned...

Separate shaft eats HP and is more complex...

There aren't more V4 because of cost...  


Quote Kevin Cameron... he ponders the reasons why Honda decided on the V4:

Honda's engineers obviously succeeded in finding a basis for long development in the V-Four concept
and the bikes that have been wrapped around it. The major themes in this long evolution are:

1) to relocate weight forward as needed to make an accelerating motorcycle steer;

2) to achieve quick handling through increased chassis and engine compactness; '

3) to raise engine capability through friction reduction, better breathing,more efficient combustion and
structural rigidity.

[smileyman]

Kevin Cameron is a pretty smart fellow. Been a fan of his Cycleworld articles, subscribed almost on his basis alone...Good stuff.

[Galo]

Fourono, anyone?