Motorcycle Sport

There’s one thing to be same for a sport bike that creates no secrets regarding its purpose in life. From minimalist bodywork to associate 8-stage traction system, everything regarding the Aprilia RSV4 R – except for the obligatory FMVSS bits – adheres to a singular philosophy: race-ready out of the box. But, like most civilian race bikes, the RSV4 R encompasses a one-track-mind, which means drawn-out strolls through city can seemingly finish with a visit to your native therapist. Then again, this associateti-street conduct makes for an on-track expertise in contrast to something presently offered within the thought marketplace.
What's New

Aprilia has issued a slew of running changes to the RSV4 since its introduction in 2009. For 2014, the RSV4 R receives a bigger 200/55-17 rear tire and freer flowing exhaust that bumps total power output to 184 horsepower (up from 180).
The Ride

If you’ve been on the fence regarding committing to a V4, this might be the bike that turns the tide. Churning out wave once wave of ferocious-yet-usable power to associate clear baritone classical music, Aprilia’s 999cc, 65-degree V4 commandeers your lobe and overwrites past recollections of inline-4s. associate almost-overabundance of low-end torsion ensures there’s comfortable power on faucet within the event of a miss-shift.

That’s to not say the RSV4 R could be a handful around city, either. Even riders whose throttle management resembles that of a light-weight switch can realize the Aprilia willing to oblige tight parking heaps and full roadways with the tractableness of a middleweight.

With however a light-weight flick of associate gliding joint, the quality fast shifter slices its approach through gears with a surgeon’s preciseness. Pucker power is quite plentiful because of large Brembo front brakes comprised of 320mm rotors, four 30mm pistons, and a adorned line. The front brakes also are remarkably simple to modulate, affording linear, foreseeable one-finger braking motor-assisted by a 3-mode ABS program (rain, sport, and track). Ignition mapping offers a rain, sport, and track setting in addition, with the game mode serving up the most effective balance between throttle response and roll on traction. then long as we’re on the subject of performance physics, the RSV4 R’s 8-stage traction system is, in our opinion, the best such unit out there on a production bike.

Though it employs abundant of a similar technology found in its BMW and Ducati competitors, Aprilia’s performance ride management (APRC) receives highest praise for its good execution. little Al paddles placed on the left bar afford on-the-fly changes notwithstanding throttle position. And, as any avid track rider can tell you, transparency is that the key discriminator between an honest traction system and a good one. within the case of APRC, we tend to found it nearly not possible to see once and if the system was kicking in because of the seamless manner within which it intervened.

Another handy element of the APRC framework is wheelie management, which has 3 modes for dominant the specified longitudinal acceleration limits of the bike. in contrast to traction management, however, neutering wheelie management needs winnowing through many pages of on-screen menus.

Last and positively least, there’s a launch control operation to appease aspiring Vin Diesel sorts. operating in conjunction with the traction and wheelie management systems, launch management permits the user to focus only on emotional the clutch throughout standing starts. Admittedly, the system’s well-calibrated algorithms do so turn out some rousing launches, however had riders can in all probability use the horn additional typically than launch management.

Ergonomics ar, obviously, quite aggressive. however if the bulk of seat time is spent within the realm that the RSV4 R was meant (hint, hint: the racetrack), these unyielding ergos ought to begin to create sense. protection in to the fuel tank’s deeply carved cutouts instills a high degree tactile security throughout extreme lean angles, while low, swept-back bars combined with a raised saddle frequently promote the optimum riding position.

Quick changes of direction needed to a small degree additional effort than the supremely agile S1000RR and Ducati Panigale, although overall responsiveness closely matched that of the Yamaha R1 and Honda CBR1000RR.