APRILIA’S latest spec RSV 1000R is certainly sure to impress many riders within the sports bike fraternity. It is a head turner as far as looks go and even before you tip it into your first corner, that awesome V-twin sound will keep a smile on your face well after the sun has gone down.

On the stand

As mentioned the RSV-R has some very sharp lines and impressive looks. One of the first things to grab your attention is the Ohlins front forks and radial mounted calipers, with the forks being treated with TiN (Titanium Nitride) which ultimately improves their action

 
Behind the stealth looking body work is the latest generation chassis from Aprilia, which delivers light weight and excellent torsional rigidity, with the steering rake increased to 25 degrees giving a slight increase in trail over the past model. A new and very trick looking swingarm keeps the rear end in check, which is made from extruded Peraluman and aluminium-silicon castings. The whole frame and swing arm combination is incredibly light, weighing in at under 15 kilograms and making it one of the lightest in the sports bike class.

Mumbo department

In this particular area, Aprilia has really hit the nail on the head, with its V60 magnesium V-twin motor. This latest generation engine features 33mm exhaust valves and larger diameter exhaust headers feeding gasses into the three way catalytic converter, helping the bike achieve the strict Euro 3 emissions standards

 
It would be a far cry to say that the motor has lost any of its power or torque as the updated motor actually has a claimed increase of four horsepower on the previous motor, taking the power figure to just over 105 kilowatts or 143 horsepower. And regarding the power delivery from the 997.62cc engine, it is strong without being too aggressive and certainly more usable than previous models, which can be attributed to the engine management and multipoint fuel injection system. Our test bike was fitted with Akropovic pipes, not standard but emitting a wondrous cacophony of sound.

Suspension & brakes

We can certainly say without any shadow of a doubt that Aprilia has certainly put together an awesome suspension package on this bike. Riding out along back roads which at times looked more like a patch work quilt, there was a certain expectation that the suspension would be too harsh and be hard work for the rider, however it was completely the opposite. The RSV-R behaved in a completely tolerable manner, soaking up all the lumps and bumps encountered and did so without making the rider feel like they had spent time trying to tame a bucking bronco.

Suspension was firm yet forgiving even through the harshest of corners and it was a real testament to the Ohlins forks and Sachs rear shock. Three riders managed to throw a leg over the Aprilia and each rider commented on the compliant nature of the suspension, which really surprised us with its manners.

On the braking horizon, the Aprilia has a mixed feel about it, as the 320mm front Brembos are incredibly strong from the moment you breath on them. In fact around town they are probably a little too strong, however on the open road with increased speeds they provide plenty of bite, with an improved feedback to the rider under those conditions, where you can really feel them working.

On the flip side the rear Brembo brake is quite weak to the point of being disappointing. Initial operation of the rear brake felt almost non existent and it wasn’t until a concerted effort of pressure was applied that the rear brake gave any confidence, and this was certainly apparent for those who like to use some trailing rear brake coming into corners. It may just be a case that the rear sintered pads are too hard for general use, but this was really the only negative that came out of the whole suspension and braking package on the RSV-R.
 

Creature comforts

Rider position feels pretty good on the Aprilia and although it’s not the most comfortable, it certainly isn’t totally uncomfortable.
Footpeg and ’bar positioning is quite good and it’s not until you spend a bit of time in traffic that the ’bars start to give the wrists a twinge.

Controls on the RSV-R are well within reach for the rider and the dash has a combination of an analogue tacho and digital speedo.
The seat is firm without being too firm and over a day’s riding didn’t feel worse as the day wore on.
Its shape in conjunction with the tank allows the rider to change direction with ease along with tucking in as required.

A particular point which is not always mentioned is the quality of the headlight. We rode the Aprilia during both daylight and night hours and found the headlight very good for night use, providing a strong beam that covered a good distance without ever feeling as though you could ride above the ability of the lighting provided.
Pillion pegs are neatly mounted to the sub frame, so pillions are catered for after removal of the single seat cowl and replacing it with the pillion squab.
 

A good ride

>Not much has really been mentioned about the performance and usability of the RSV-R in real terms, so this it how the bike sums up. The V-twin engine is a real treat on the open road with a modest bottom end heading to a mid range which is certainly where the Aprilia comes into its own. Maximum torque is reached at 8,000 revs and we found ourselves regularly in that vicinity during our ride and pushing through the twisties the V-twin really was a joy to ride.

A hydraulic clutch keeps the six speed box happy, with the gears well spaced allowing gears to be held through corners before up changing on the exits. The engine revs quite freely and it was not too hard to reach the limiter when a little of the ‘red mist’ was occurring. As with almost all V-twins they are a little laboured around town and you regularly find yourself riding in a lower gear to make the riding a little smoother.

As an entire package, the Aprilia RSV-R is pretty good all round. Performance is great (that would be an understatement – Ed) and the handling is top notch and I can only imagine how good it would feel on the track. As mentioned the brakes are mixed in their feel front and rear, but this can be overcome with a little care and some good use of engine braking.

The bike looks great in its Grey Platinum livery, however other colours are available being White Ice and Blue Planet. There are a list of accessories available for the RSV-R to both assist with horsepower gains, touring, anti theft and race applications.

Being an Italian made machine, you are assured of getting a quality product with plenty of racing heritage and the Aprilia RSV-R certainly falls into that class. They are well priced at $23,990 and for someone looking for a machine slightly left of centre, this might just be the one for you, Vee Va Italia.