2010 Aprilia RSV4-R Review [ashonbikes.com]

[UFO]

Kevin Ash give us his impressions of the new RSV4-R from his test ride in Estoril (Portugal) this month.

The engine is well endowed with torque, no just in the muscular mid-range but down low too, and will rescue wrong gear riding or as at Estoril, allow you to slip up a ratio and ride the torque in variable grip conditions without losing much from your lap times – this is a forgiving motor, as well as a very exciting one, and if the previous superbike I’d ridden hadn’t been the shockingly fast S 1000 RR would have completely wowed me.



It’ll take a direct comparison test (and what a test that’s going to be!) to eke out the real differences as riding these bikes on different circuits in different conditions can only sow so much, but I’m pretty certain the BMW will have the top end legs of the Aprilia (and its other rivals too). The grunt is much harder to judge and the Italian bike might well pull back the disadvantage in the way it charges out of corners, as long as you can keep the front end in check, and that’s despite its 52/48 front/rear weight distribution.

Read the entire Aprilia RSV4-R review at ashonbikes.com.

[Lon]

The howl of that RSV4 engine...  

[MisterSmooth]

These two bikes are the most interesting sportbikes to emerge this year, so comparing them is a natural thing.  But the WSBK season leaves no question which one is a better racebike.  Fourth place for Biaggi in the bike's first season?  And Simoncelli on podium as a guest rider for one race?  

BMW was back there on the grid somewhere, not sure exactly where.  

Although the BMW fits me better, I wouldn't be surprised if there's an RSV-R in my garage someday.  

[Orson]

many will go to the stat sheets and buy the BMW based on the horsepower figures.

I'm guessing some BMW owners may end up shocked...SHOCKED, that an Aprilia outpulled them  

[atadaskew]

many will go to the stat sheets and buy the BMW based on the horsepower figures.

I'm guessing some BMW owners may end up shocked...SHOCKED, that an Aprilia outpulled them  

I wouldn't be surprised.  Piaggio owns both Vespa and Aprilia and apparently there has been a lot of intellectual exchange behind the scenes.  The Vespa GTS300 has a lot of pull too and now, ALL OF A SUDDEN, the RSV-4 appears..

I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'
 

[Orson]

not to mention access to Guzzi's top secret wind tunnel.

[Lon]

But the WSBK season leaves no question which one is a better racebike.  Fourth place for Biaggi in the bike's first season?  And Simoncelli on podium as a guest rider for one race?  

BMW was back there on the grid somewhere, not sure exactly where.  

Although the BMW fits me better, I wouldn't be surprised if there's an RSV-R in my garage someday.  

If you intend to buy a bike based on its presence or winnings in WSBK, you are looking at the $21,000 RSV4 Factory, not the $16000 RSV4-R.

The RSV4 Factory is the production version of the superbike, not the RSV4R.

[MisterSmooth]

If you intend to buy a bike based on its presence or winnings in WSBK, you are looking at the $21,000 RSV4 Factory, not the $16000 RSV4-R.

The RSV4 Factory is the production version of the superbike, not the RSV4R.

True, I spose.  

Although VisorDown's latest issue has articles both on how there's very little difference between the performance of the Aprilia Factory versus the plain-jane R (mortals probably can't tell the difference)...

and Troy Corser explaining how tough World Superbikes is and how BMW is gonna get some podiums next year.  Really.  No fooling.  Definitely podiums next year.