Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1542354
Aprilio RSYI000R This retails in ltaly lor euro 16,390 ($19,836),againsttheeuro 14,290($17,294) price of the RSV 1000R - a modest increase on the euro 13,800 ($16,701) sticker price of the older model, especiallywhen you con- sider the addition of the Ohlins fork. You immediately notice the diflerence betrveen the tlvo out on the racetrack. The reduced unsprung weight delivered by the OZ wheels is alreidy an asset in terms of improved suspension compliance, especially since the factory also comes with an Ohlins rear shock that's seemingly more compliant and sensitive to set up than the R model's stock Sachs (though, if this is good enough for Massimo Tamburini to use on his F4 MV A8ustas, it can't be that inferior). But the huge difference bewveen the !wo, as expressed via the much easrer turn-in and changes of dire.tion on the fac- tory - even with the same slightly ''rangier" steering geometry - comes thanks to the significantly reduced Syroscopic weight delivered by the wheels. Thrs resulrs in noticeably lighter, easier steering, as well as more precise turn-in. You don't feel like RSV-R at Qatar fifted with this option was a better exhaust note and improved pick up out of a slgw corner, putting it on a par with the same-weiSht factory equipped with the slock Ansa cans- Ithink the main benefits here are the weight savings, the sound, and the Akropovic sticker on the silencers. But the completely street-legal system that's also available will deliver a 6.5-hp gain and l7- pound savings that rncludes freer.flowing collector and headers, too, and will surely make a big difference to the bike, while retaining the sound-cutout system. There wasn't a bike at Qatar fitted wi(h this, unfortunately, but as a hint of what lies in store, I did a couple of laps on a factory fitted with the full-race Evo 5 exhaust warh steel downpipes and collector (the rest is all titanium), yielding an extra ll-hp and 15.4-pound savinSs. The result was pretry awesome per- formance for a twin-c/linder streetbike, with a fat sur8e of power staning at 6500 rpm, building aggressively all through the rev range to the accompaniment of an impressively thunderous exhaust note. But don't even think about using (he kir pipe for the ride home from the track - it's much too loud for that. The massive extra madranSe power actually makes the Aprilia even easier to ride, since it takes almost any gear you can throw at it and will hold a ratio for even longer, plus it makes for an even sharper throttle response. The PSV-R's distinctive four-headlamp styling, originally the work of German- based British designer Martin Longmore, and since updated for the new bike by Aprilia's in-house stylinS center, isn't qLrite as voluminous as the original Mille, but it does Sive good protection in a srrarght line - even with the slightly smaller new-for-'06 screen. Note the turn signals incorporated into the mirrors (which don't shake and 8ive a pretty good view), which together with the revised seat section, means that preparing the bike for track-day use involves just two minutes work unbolting the mirror units and detaching the plug-in connectors for the srSnals - and removint the four bolts attaching the rear license- plate bracket to the bike. Neat. you have to lug the bike over onto its side to make it change direction. lf you think the $2400 difference between the RSV-R and the factory is out of your reach - or not worth worrying abour, given rhar you now get rhe Ohlins fork thrown in with the stocker - my advice is to start saving now for a set ofthe OZ wheels from the extensive Aprilia RSV- R aftermarket catalog. They'll really make a huge difference in your enjoyment of the bike, especially on track days, but on rhe street- too. I didn't think there would be such a big difference. but there is. That even comes ahead of what would normally be at the top of anyone's wish list for their new Aprilia sportbike - one of the trio of Akiapovic exhaust options for the RSV-R and factory two of which are even street legal, which represents an unusual move to entice customers used to seeing the ''For Track Use Only' sticker attached to aftermarket exhausts. The revised EPROM map foreach of these is already stored in the Siemens ECU, though you still have to visit your dealer to get him to switch it over, and back again, ifyou reinstallor remove one of the two more potent options. Also effective are the superb Brembo brakes, which give the bite you expect from a radial package, but also great feel and modulation. There's plenty of confi- dence-inspiring stopping power - withouta trace of weave or wobble. lt was good, even if you had to be careful not to ask too much ofthe PPC slipper clutch by selecting second gear too early, and risking a hint of chatter from the rear wheel. lt's okay to huck it back three gea6 in swift succes- sion, but you have to wait for that final dowhward shift. The new Aprilia RSV 1000R and its high- end factory counterpart aren't about radi- cal improvements or big R&D steps, though there have been advances in over- all performance and detail improvefients. Rather. it's about giving its broad customer base of V-twin enthusiasts the lame levelof enioyment on the road or track as before, but now with a bike that meets bureau- cratic requirements for the foreseeable future, while epitomizing the fun you can ge! from riding a tlvin-cylinder sportbike pretty close to its maximum potential. Fioravanzo and his team deserve a big pat on the back for Siving us more speed, more torque, more power and just a plain better bike, while still keeping Brussels sat- isfied. So everyone is happy and Aprilia is back in business. CIil E|p- The mon behind the proied: ,$oriono Fiotovonro, 25 ApRrL 26, 2006 CYCLE NEWS G iTEGI (Right) Ihe foctory version comes w h lighler OZ wheolr ond olhor trick rtuff which mokes it olmoct nine-pounds lighter tllon lhe rtondord veruion. ] 7/ d' ei, , I I r:-*- t (Above) The simple, yet effi(ienl, dosh of rhe RSv. - f -]s a{ , kn I a a h (Above) For rocelro.k ure only: lhe Akropovic exhcust is on option on lhe fqclory Ycriion. (Lefrl The RSV gels rr.ndord ond heovier wheels qnd our tester noriced rhe dif{ercnce when ficking rhc bikc aide lo ride qt Oolorl I /{ I t I remember taking Aprilia to task a few years ago for apparently being eager to maximize dealer traffic with this requirement, Now they've added a third option of a pair of titanium slip-on canisters thar have sound dampeners in them, which make the bike legal for you to ride home on - after removinS them at a rrack day for the 5.5-hp gain in performance they're .laimed to deliver, along with a lo-pound weight savin8s. The main attraction of riding an I \ I r I ti I i'i. ,7 Ir I l^ ,--