Aprilia RSV4 1000 FACTORY 2011 — Specifications

When Aprilia decided to start from scratch for its top-of-the-line supersport, the brand from Noale didn't look for a complicated solution: it needed a V4. Not for gratuitous exoticism, but because this compact 65° cylinder angle architecture allows for a streamlined silhouette, a lower center of gravity, and aerodynamic gains that four inline cylinders lose in lateral bulk. The result is this Aprilia RSV4 1000 Factory, which arrives with 180 horsepower at 12,500 rpm, 112.8 Nm of torque at 10,000 rpm, and a dry weight of 179 kg that immediately sets the tone: you’re not here to pick up croissants.

The perimeter aluminum twin-spar frame might seem conventional on paper, but that's precisely where Aprilia played it fine. The steering head angle is adjustable, the swingarm mounting point is also adjustable, and the longitudinal position of the engine in the frame can be modified. This level of adjustability is found on competition machines derived from the World Superbike, not on a motorcycle sold for 19,990 euros for the average mortal. The Factory version pushes the argument even further with Öhlins suspensions at both ends, a 43 mm inverted fork at the front, a single shock at the rear, and Brembo radial-mount calipers clamping down on 320 mm discs. The braking is up to the announced top speed, 304 km/h, a figure that deserves to be taken seriously.

Faced with a Yamaha R1 or a Suzuki GSX-R 1000 from the same era, the Aprilia RSV4 1000 Factory distinguishes itself less by the raw numbers than by the coherence of the whole. Its Japanese competitors offer comparable performance in terms of power, but none offer this degree of mechanical personalization accessible without complete disassembly. The 13:1 compression ratio, the square bore of 78 mm for a stroke of 52.3 mm, all of this speaks of an engine designed to rev high, with a usable range that rewards riders who know how to read a tachometer. It’s not a motorcycle for learning to ride a motorcycle.

The design deserves attention. The front air intake disappears in favor of two openings housed under the side lights, giving the front face a frankly intimidating three-eyed look. The reduced fairing deliberately reveals the details of the frame and the V4, as if the mechanics themselves were part of the show. The single seat, the short-cut tail, the absence of passenger footrests, the semi-slick tires as original equipment: the message is clear. The road, yes, but the track first. The seat height at 845 mm and the 17-liter tank remind you that you can technically do kilometers with it, but the ergonomics don’t lie about the real intentions.

For the confirmed track rider or the sportsman who wants a machine directly derived from the Superbike without going through the preparation box, this RSV4 Factory represents a solid argument. For the tourist or beginner, look elsewhere. The 19,990 euros of the 2011 vintage placed the machine in the high end of the price range, but the equipment largely justified the difference compared to the base versions. Even today, when we talk about the Aprilia RSV4 1000 Factory 2025 in terms of lineage and heritage, it is this first model that laid the foundations for a consistent, ambitious and formidable line on the track.