2009 Aprilia RSV4
2009 Aprilia RSV4
The new RSV4 is not only the company's first four-cylinder machine, it also boasts the first engine designed entirely in-house at Aprilia, on top of which the bike is pitched into the most fiercely competitive and unforgiving territory of all, the superbike class.
That means it's up against Honda's benchmark Fireblade, the technically exciting Yamaha R1, the insanely fast Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja, the perennially brilliant Suzuki GSX-R1000 and, of course, Ducati's stunning 1198 S.
THE FACTS
PRICE: £14,999.
POWER/TORQUE: 177bhp@12,500rpm/85lb ft@10,000rpm
TOP SPEED: 175mph (est)
FUEL ECONOMY: n/a
FUEL TANK/RANGE: n/a
SEAT HEIGHT: 845mm/33.3in
TRANSMISSION: six-speed/chain final drive
WEIGHT: 395lb/179kg (dry)
ALTERNATIVES: Ducati 1198S, £16,495. Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, £9,521. Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja, £8,913. Suzuki GSX-R1000, £9,800. Yamaha YZF-R1, £9,999.
VERDICT: Character of a twin-cylinder bike with the performance of a four. Potential class leader.