Aprilia RSV4 or BMW S1000RR?

[EricJ]

Ok, so both bikes are slated to be on NA shores later this year.  Both bikes are running in their 1st season of World Superbike,  only the Aprillia has won yet.   Great expectations for both await.

If you were in the market, what you you rather have?

For me, it's obvious.  Give me BLS option package!  

Eric

[Busy Little Whiner]

BMW S1000RR is a conventional I4 designed to capture 10% of the status quo market share...

Aprilia RSV4 was designed to challenge the old status quo with a race bred V4...

[2RR2NV]

RSV BABY!!  same reason as BLS. wohooo...can i have one?  

[kevin_stevens]

The BMW has an electronics package unlike anything that's been put on a street bike before.  It's offering the most HP ever in a liter bike, along with the ability to help the rider use it effectively.

I like the Aprilia - who wouldn't?  But to me there's much less ground-breaking about it, and I wouldn't own one just because of the dealership network thing.  I'm totally on the opposite side from Larry (as usual).  Aprilia is same-old/same-old, BMW is the next step forward.  I doubt the Japanese bikes are all going to V-4s, but I'll bet within three years they all have some form of traction/wheelie control and ABS available on their SS bikes.

KeS

[Busy Little Whiner]

The BMW has an electronics package unlike anything that's been put on a street bike before.  It's offering the most HP ever in a liter bike, along with the ability to help the rider use it effectively.

I like the Aprilia - who wouldn't?  But to me there's much less ground-breaking about it, and I wouldn't own one just because of the dealership network thing.  I'm totally on the opposite side from Larry (as usual).  Aprilia is same-old/same-old, BMW is the next step forward.  I doubt the Japanese bikes are all going to V-4s, but I'll bet within three years they all have some form of traction/wheelie control and ABS available on their SS bikes.

KeS

BMW's cammy hit I4 needs an electronics package unlike anything that's been put on a street to tame
the HP whereas the V4s linear power delivery is naturally helping the rider use it effectively...

For BMW to stay competitive in the market and on the track they will have copy Yamaha "virtual V4"...  

[atypical1]

Nice try Larry but the RSV4 has traction control too. Electronics are the future of sportbikes regardless of configuration.

Oh, there's no such thing as a "virtual" V4 and it's lame for anyone to make a claim as such. Regardless of firing order the bike is an I4.

james

[miles]

I have to echo Kevin's comments.  The Aprilia is a nice iteration of an evolutionary dead-end in motorcycles.  Well made, but ultimately doomed to obsolescence.

[Busy Little Whiner]

Nice try Larry but the RSV4 has traction control too. Electronics are the future of sportbikes regardless of configuration.

Oh, there's no such thing as a "virtual" V4 and it's lame for anyone to make a claim as such. Regardless of firing order the bike is an I4.

james

True the RSV4 has traction control... the difference being that a linear powerband requires less TC help
than a cammy hit powerband...

True Yamaha's "Virtual V4" is still an I4 and the only way to improve it is with a real V4 but the press
coined the "virtual V4" saying and not anyone here in STN...

Quote respected MotoGP journalist Michael Scott:

"How had he managed to defeat not only Biaggi, but also Gibernau in
third? The Yamaha was the underdog, very much the junior to the V5
Honda. The answer lay in the exhaust note. Rossi's bike growled rather
than howled. The upgrade Yamaha had promised their new rider ran deep.
It was nothing more than a revival of the same sort of Big Bang
principal that had served Honda so well in 1992. In the modern
context, it turned an in-line engine into a virtual V4. Most
importantly, it made the bike more friendly to the rider, kinder to
the tyres and easier to ride to the limit. During the season, Suzuki,
Ducati and Proton would follow on with revised "Big Bang" or "Long
Bang" firing intervals of their own. Kawasaki were the only exception,
for Honda's V5 had this characteristic built in."


2009 Bike Magazine



Quote 2009 motorcycle.com:

"You might not yet know what a cross-plane crankshaft is, but you will.
It’s a link to Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP bike, and it’s the biggest
advancement in literbike engine design in years."

"This new crankshaft arrangement is part of Yamaha’s latest YZF-R1, a
literbike we tested last week at the Eastern Creek circuit in
Australia, and it’s a design not seen in any previous production
motorcycle."

"The 998cc engine’s distinct sound is the obvious clue that it’s
something special - it’s akin to a V-Four with a deep, purposeful note
that seems a little bit angry. But it’s in the way the motor generates
power that sets it apart from its competition. Gone is the peaky
powerband of the previous motor, and in its place is the most
tractable four-cylinder literbike yet built."

"The newly enhanced midrange is welcome, but more than that is the feel
of a direct connection between the throttle and rear tire. In most
literbikes, a rider is acutely aware of the possibility of being
high-sided to the moon if the throttle is applied injudiciously. With
the R1, even a moderately skilled rider can safely drift the rear tire
on corner exits."
   

[Busy Little Whiner]

I have to echo Kevin's comments.  The Aprilia is a nice iteration of an evolutionary dead-end in motorcycles.  Well made, but ultimately doomed to obsolescence.

Look around Miles... V4s are on the rise... either real or virtual... there could be one in your future as well...

[DosEquis00]

Look around Miles... V4s are on the rise... either real or virtual... there could be one in your future as well...

+1 as the V4 is the perfect motorcycle engine.

[miles]

Look around Miles... V4s are on the rise... either real or virtual... there could be one in your future as well...

One new model in this decade hardly makes them "on the rise".

[atypical1]

Look around Miles... V4s are on the rise... either real or virtual... there could be one in your future as well...

Regardless of what the press says there is no such thing as a virtual V4. It's either a V4 or it's not. Jeebus, that's like having a virtual girlfriend or something. Maybe the ultimate motor is an I4 with a modified firing order.



james

[Busy Little Whiner]

Regardless of what the press says there is no such thing as a virtual V4. It's either a V4 or it's not. Jeebus, that's like having a virtual girlfriend or something. Maybe the ultimate motor is an I4 with a modified firing order.
james

You're right... a virtual V4 is like having a virtual girlfriend... much better to have a real one... thats why
Yamaha will someday ante up a real V4 for racing...

[2006FJR]

I could care less which one is .00001 seconds faster. I would buy the BMW.  

[2RR2NV]

Look around Miles... V4s are on the rise... either real or virtual... there could be one in your future as well...

ME TOO, ME TOO, ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!  soon. hopefully sooner than i think. i so want my VFR back!

[MisterSmooth]

I could care less which one is .00001 seconds faster. I would buy the BMW.  

I couldn't care less which one is 0.00001 seconds faster, either.  I can't make either of these bikes perform anywhere near their capabilities.  But only one of the two gets me emotionally, which is where bikes like these play their high cards.


The BMW is very nice, and I bet is a better streetbike (just more tractable in general--the RSV is a race bike with lights).


But I'd buy the RSV4 every time.    The Aprilia is the RC30 of its time.  Ten years from now the BMW will be just another inline four sportbike and the Aprilia will still be special.  

[zam70]

One new model in this decade hardly makes them "on the rise".

You forget the DesmoRR ?

I find it interesting that BMW went conventional in most of the mechanical aspects of the bike then gave the engine MONDO power just to choke it back with advanced electronic control of well, everything...odd I thought.  
What's the point of all the power if it is never/rarely allowed to be unleashed and then, only with the permission of the electronics?  
The electronics and technology although very impressive, I think is to intrusive.
Then there's the reliability/trust in the electronics as well...
AND - The BMW 1000RR is just plain ugly IMO.  
Now this is BMW beauty...


The Aprilia, in typical Italian/Aprilia fashion is gorgeous

Then again, what I know - I like the Speed triple

[vchengap]

Since I got a VFR, I've really come to appreciate V4s.  Even thought they're a PITA to work on.  I'd go with the Aprilia on this one.

[atypical1]

What's the point of all the power if it is never/rarely allowed to be unleashed and then, only with the permission of the electronics?  
The electronics and technology although very impressive, I think is to intrusive.

Electronics are on the RSV4 too. It comes with traction control and that's going to be an ever increasing feature on all sport bikes in the very near future. Mark my words, in 5 or 10 years every sport bike is going to come with traction control, ABS, etc. Like it or hate it, it's going to be our reality.

james

[miles]

You forget the DesmoRR ?

No, I haven't forgotten it.  In fact, I've ridden one on a number of occasions.  I didn't count it because of its very limited production numbers, and the fact that it costs $75k putting it out of the realm of real-world bike.


As far as the electronics on the BMW being intrusive, that isn't what I hear from those that have ridden the bike.  The traction control is integrated into the fly-by-wire throttle system, so it is unobtrusive and doesn't limit the power in any way except to smooth out the delivery.  It has multiple modes, too, so you can set how much you want (or don't want).