VOLUME 58 ISSUE 4 JANUARY 26, 2021 P47
2021 Aprilia RSV4 First Look
T
wo years after Aprilia joined
arch-rivals Ducati in bumping
their four-cylinder superbike to a
class-busting 1077cc, Aprilia has
given its RSV4 a fresh facelift for
2021.
Like the history of the RSV4,
the changes are evolutionary
rather than revolutionary and
focus on maintaining Euro 5
compliance via a small increase
in displacement to 1099cc and
a host of aerodynamic improve-
ments via a new fairing design.
The RS 660 is much to blame
here, as it was the catalyst for
the aero changes with the RSV4
employing the double-layered
fairing concept that was first
seen on the 660. The new fair-
ing design increases the high-
speed performance of the V4 by
increasing airbox pressurization,
as well as aiding in cooling.
The new nose fairing houses
cornering LED lights, and the
new fuel tank, designed to get
the rider lower in the tuck posi-
tion, is matched to a reworked
seat that gives the rider a little
more room to move around on.
The electronics come in the
form of the latest generation
Marelli 11MP ECU and six-
axis IMU, and the Aprilia Per-
formance Ride Control (APRC)
rider aids have been reworked
to give multi-level engine brake
control as well as six riding
modes (three for the track three
for the road), along with traction
and wheelie control and ABS.
The main chassis is as it was
in 2020, but there's a new un-
derbraced swingarm, similar to
the design Aleix Espargaro runs
in MotoGP.
The new Aprilia RSV4 Fac-
tory gets all these improvements
plus the Ohlins Smart EC 2.0
semi-active suspension, forged
aluminum wheels and Brembo
Sylema calipers.
The MSRP for the 2021 Aprilia
RSV4 is $18,999 ($20,995 in
Canada) and $25,999 ($27,495
in Canada) for the Aprilia RSV4
Factory, with bikes available by
the end of Q1, 2021. CN
A nip and a tuck
and a bigger
motor for the
2021 Aprilia
RSV4 and
RSV4 Factory
(pictured).
