2015 APRILIA RSV4 RF
FIRST RIDE
P98
But I did use the rear stopper
hard enough to feel the pedal
pulsing under my right boot,
denoting that the ABS was fully
operational as part of the bench-
mark electronics package. In
case you need reminding, this
includes the three-stage RBW
(ride-by-wire) digital throttle offer-
ing those three distinct riding
modes, eight-level TC (traction
control), three-level AWC (anti-
wheelie control), launch control,
engine braking control, as well
as the electronic quickshifter,
and a recalibration program
which detects the type and make
of tires fitted, and adjusts these
electronic programs accordingly.
Then there's the switchable ABS
system with three settings if left
on, each with a greater or lesser
degree of RLM (rear wheel lift-
up mitigation) - the electronic
anti-lift system which monitors
the degree by which the rear
wheel is lifting off the ground
under hard braking. So as the
rear wheel lifts, the degree of
electronic ABS intervention
decreases, to avoid the ultimate
extreme risk of the rear wheel
lifting high enough for a tip-over.
However, it was the front wheel
that especially liked to reach for
the skies at Misano, with the
lowest level (one) AWC insuf-
ficient to tame the effects of
that hefty increased midrange
torque in making wheelies a fact
of life out of the five second-
gear corners at the grippy Italian
track. Switching to level two
mostly cured that without any
noticeable adverse effect on ac-
"THE NEW MOTOR
HAS NOW SWUNG
THE SCALES
TOWARDS THE
FOUR-CYLINDER
SIDE OF THINGS
AS IT DRIVES
REMORSELESSLY
TOWARDS THE SOFT-
ACTION 14,200 RPM
REVLIMITER."
World Superbike star Leon Haslam
(right) made a smoking start to his
Aprilia career, winning his first ever
race at Phillip Island for the company.
