Are you ready for a 217 hp superbike? Are you ready for aerodynamic winglets? Because, you can now get them both on the 2019 Aprilia RSV4 Factory.
Ahead of next week’s EICMA show, Aprilia has dropped some deets on its new halo superbike. Most impressive is the news that the V4 engine on the RSV4 Factory has been boosted to 1078 cc, which allows for 217 hp.
And, in what Aprilia says is a first for a factory superbike, the RSV4 Factory gets aerodynamic winglets, just like we saw on MotoGP bikes. In fact, Aprilia says they were developed with data from the GP project. According to Aprilia’s press release, “The particular shape designed in the wind tunnel and the inclination at which they are mounted take advantage of the downforce of the channeled air to let the winglets increase stability at high speeds, contributing to decreasing the tendency for wheelies coming out of turns and at the same time increasing stability in hard braking.” There you have it.
Getting down to the nitty gritty of the engine changes, the 52 mm stroke is the same, but bore has been increased on the RSV4 Factory from 78 mm to 81 mm. Compression ratio also remains the same. There’s also an improved oiling system, with new pump and double oil jets that keep the pistons cooler. There’s revised intake valve timing, and a longer ratio for fifth and sixth gear. EFI has been upgraded, and the ECU has a higher limit (13,600 rpm now, with max power at 13,200 rpm, max torque of 89 lb-ft at 11,000 rpm).
There’s also a new street-legal Akrapovic silencer, supposedly lighter than the previous exhaust, and the whole APRC electronics package has been tweaked for maximum performance from the new engine.
As for the chassis, it’s highly adjustable, with the ability to tweak the swingarm pivot, engine position in frame, headstock angle and rear end height. It’s slightly revised from last year’s model (shorter wheelbase) and includes new Ohlins NIX fork with 125 mm of travel, a fully adjustable TTX shock absorber, and adjustable steering damper. The swingarm is also reworked this year.
For brakes, we have Brembo Stylema front calipers, with improved pads fitted, and you can fit carbon-fibre air ducts to keep the brakes cooled.
Weight, with a tank of fuel, is 199 kg.
The APRC electronics system is now in its fourth generation, with input from the World Superbike team. This year, there’s three-level wheelie control and eight-stetting traction control (both can be adjusted on the fly without closing throttle), three-setting launch control, up/down quickshifting, pit lane speed limiter, cruise control, and there’s also three-level cornering ABS, which works in conjunction with the Aprilia RLM (Rear Liftup Mitigation) system that limits the lift of the rear wheel during more abrupt braking.
The gauges are TFT, with two selectable screen pages (one for Road and one for Race, with night or day backlighting). And, you can connect your smartphone to the bike via Bluetooth, to control your telephone calls or infotainment system, but also tweak settings on the bike.
As for the RSV4 RR, there are no technical changes from last year’s model, only paint. No word on Canadian availability or pricing for these models yet.
APRILIA RSV4 1100 Factory: Technical Specifications [in brackets the data referring to RSV4 RR]
Engine type Aprilia longitudinal 65° V-4 cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid cooling system, double overhead camshafts (DOHC), four valves per cylinder
Bore and stroke 81 x 52.3 mm [78 x 52.3 mm]
Total engine capacity 1,078cc (999,6 cc)
Compression ratio 13.6:1
Maximum power at crankshaft 217 HP (159.6 kW) at 13,200 rpm [201 HP (148 kW) at 13,000 rpm]
Maximum torque at crankshaft 122 Nm at 11,000 rpm [115 Nm at 10,500 rpm]
Fuel system Airbox with front dynamic air intakes. 4 Marelli 48-mm throttle bodies with 8 injectors and latest generation RideBy-Wire engine management. Choice of three different engine maps selectable by the rider with bike in motion: Track, Sport, Race Ignition Magneti Marelli digital electronic ignition system integrated in engine control system, with one spark plug per cylinder and “stick-coil”-type coils
Starter Electric
Exhaust 4 into 2 into 1 layout, two lambda probes, lateral single silencer with ECU-controlled bypass valve and integrated trivalent catalytic converter (Euro 4)
Alternator Flywheel mounted 450 W alternator with rare earth magnets
Lubrication Wet sump lubrication system with oil radiator and two oil pumps (lubrication and cooling)
Transmission 6-speed cassette type gearbox
1st: 39/15 (2.600)
2nd: 33/16 (2.063)
3rd: 34/20 (1.700)
4th: 31/21 (1.476)
5th: 34/26 (1.307) [31/23 (1.348)]
6th: 33/27 (1.222) [34/27 (1.259)]
Gear lever with Aprilia Quick Shift electronic system (AQS)
Clutch Multi plate wet clutch with mechanical slipper system
Primary drive Straight cut gears and integrated flexible coupling, drive ratio: 73/44 (1,659)
Secondary drive chain drive ratio: 41/16 (2.562)
Traction management APRC System (Aprilia Performance Ride Control), which includes Traction Control (ATC), Wheelie Control (AWC), Launch Control (ALC), cruise control (ACC) and speed limiter (APT), all of which can be configured and deactivated independently
Frame Aluminum dual beam chassis with pressed and cast sheet elements
Available adjustments:
• headstock position and rake
• engine height
• swingarm pin height
Öhlins adjustable steering damper [Sachs non-adjustable steering damper]
Front suspension Öhlins NIX fork with 43 mm stanchions and TIN surface treatment. [Sachs fork with 43 mm stanchions]; Aluminum radial caliper mounting bracket. Adjustable spring preload and hydraulic compression and rebound damping. 125 mm [120 mm] wheel travel
Rear suspension Double braced aluminum swingarm; mixed low thickness and sheet casting technology. Öhlins TTX monoshock with piggy-back, fully adjustable in: spring preload, wheelbase and hydraulic compression and rebound damping. [Sachs monoshock adjustable in: hydraulic compression and rebound damping, spring preload and center-to-center distance]. 120 mm [130 mm] wheel travel.
Brakes
Front: Dual 330-mm diameter floating stainless steel disc with lightweight stainless-steel rotor and aluminum flange with 6 pins. Brembo Stylema [M50] monobloc radial calipers with 4 30 mm opposing pistons. Sintered pads. Radial pump and metal braided brake hose
Rear: 220 mm diameter disc; Brembo caliper with two 32 mm separate pistons . Sintered pads. Pump with integrated tank and metal braided hose
Bosch 9.1 MP ABS with cornering function, adjustable to 3 maps equipped with RLM (Rear wheel Lift-up Mitigation) [can be disabled].
Wheel rims Forged aluminum alloy wheels, completely machined, with 5 split spoke design. [Aprilia in aluminum alloy wheels with 3 split spoke design].
Front: 3.5”X17”
Rear: 6”X17”
Tires Radial tubeless. front: 120/70 ZR 17 rear: 200/55 ZR 17 (alternative: 190/50 ZR 17; 190/55 ZR 17)
Dimensions
Wheelbase: 1439 mm [1441.6 mm]
Length: 2052 mm [2055 mm]
Width: 735 mm Saddle height: 851 mm [853 mm]
Headstock angle: 24.5° [24.6°]
Trail: 103.8 mm [101.9 mm]
Weight: 199 kg [204 kg] curb weight with a full tank of fuel; dry weight: 177 kg [180 kg]
Consumption 6.50 liters/100 km [6.67 liters/100 km]
CO2 emissions 155 g/km [156 g/km]
Fuel tank capacity 18.5 liters (including 4-litre reserve)
GALLERY
Check out all the pics that go with this story!
Aprilia are able to keep making that platform better; I had a 2012 v4 tuono and now enjoy a 2018 tuono. In addition to the technical improvements, the quality has improved too!