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/717711
2016 APRILIA RSV4 RR TRACK TEST P98 about 4000 rpm right up to about 10,000 rpm—below 4000 there's not a lot there, but this isn't really a concern on the track because the only area at Laguna Seca you really see that engine speed is the final corner and the entry to the Corkscrew. A few years back a standard RSV4 would get dumped by a BMW but now I'm not so sure. The Aprilia has serious teeth in the motor department and pulls exceptionally hard right through the rev range as your left foot throws gears at it in a desperate attempt to keep up. I didn't get the chance to max it out past the top of fourth gear on standard road gearing over the blind crest into turn one, but even then at 11,000 rpm the Aprilia was charging like a bull that'd just seen a tasty matador and with two gears to go the speed show was by no means over. You'll have to go to Road America to see anything like the max speed this thing has to offer. Even though this is the RSV4 with the lowest spec of the three, I'd have no qualms stick- ing this in at least a club race as out of the box the RR feels ready to see the lights. I'd prob- ably throw heavier springs at it front and rear, a set of slicks and away we go. Plus, I'd have the best sounding bike on the grid. The RR is an exceptional motorcycle. It makes you feel special when you're squeez- ing it down Laguna Seca's front straight and that's an important thing to note because even in this spec, it's still one of the most expensive superbikes you can buy. But it's worth it. The sound, the looks, the perfor- mance, the RR has got it all. CN 2 0 1 6 A P R I L I A R S V 4 R R ENGINE: ............... Aprilia longitudinal 65° V-4 cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid cooling system, double overhead camshafts, (DOHC), four valves per cylinder DISPLACEMENT: ...........................999.6cc BORE X STROKE: ................. 78 x 52.3mm HORSEPOWER: .......201 hp @ 13,000 rpm (claimed) TORQUE: ................ 84 lb-ft @ 10,500 rpm (claimed) COMPRESSION RATIO: ......................13.6:1 FUEL SYSTEM: ........... Airbox with front dynamic air intakes. Variable length intake ducts controlled via the engine control unit. Four Marelli 48mm throttle bodies with eight injectors and latest generation Ride-By-Wire engine management. Multiple engine maps selectable by the rider with bike in motion: T (Track), S (Sport), R (Race) EXHAUST: ........ 4 into 2 into 1 layout, two oxygen sensors, lateral single silencer with ECU-controlled bypass valve and integrated trivalent catalytic converter (Euro 3). TRANSMISSION: .........Six-speed cassette type gearbox. Gear lever with Aprilia Quick Shift electronic system (AQS). CHASSIS: ..Aluminum dual beam chassis with pressed and cast sheet elements. Adjustable headstock position and rake, engine height, swingarm pin height. Non-adjustable Sachs steering damper FRONT SUSPENSION: .......... Sachs 43mm fully adjustable inverted forks. 120mm wheel travel. REAR SUSPENSION: ........Fully adjustable Sachs unit. 130mm wheel travel. FRONT BRAKE: .....................................Dual 320mm diameter floating stainless steel discs with lightweight stainless steel rotor and aluminum flange with 6 pins. Brembo M430 monobloc radial calipers with four 30mm opposing pistons. Sintered pads. Radial pump and metal braided brake hose. REAR BRAKE: .......220mm diameter disc; Brembo caliper with two 32mm separate pistons. Sintered pads. Pump with integrated tank and metal braided hose FRONT TIRE: ......................... 120/70 ZR17 REAR TIRE: ........................... 200/55 ZR17 SEAT HEIGHT: ....................................33 in. OVERALL HEIGHT: ..............................44 in. OVERALL WIDTH: ...............................29 in. OVERALL LENGTH: ......................... 80.3 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ............................. 4.9 gal WEIGHT: ................398 lb. (dry, claimed). COLOR: ..................................... Satin Gray MSRP: ............................................ $16,499 S P E C I F I C A T I O N S