Aprilia RSV4 1000 FACTORY 2009 — Specifications

When Noale decides to play with the big boys, the brand doesn't do things halfway. The Aprilia RSV4 1000 Factory was born from a clear ambition: to bring Italian back to the top of the World Superbike championship, with the weapons needed to stay there. A 65° V4 of 998 cc, compact enough to redefine what "aggressive silhouette" means on a production sportbike. 180 horsepower at 12,500 rpm, 112.8 Nm at 10,000 rpm, for 179 kg dry weight. The Japanese, who reigned unchallenged in the segment, had reason to reconsider their comfort.

The choice of a V architecture is not insignificant. It inevitably recalls the great moments of the RC30 and RC45 at Honda, these legendary machines that had managed to marry the track and the road with a rare coherence. On the Aprilia RSV4 1000 Factory, this 65° inclined V4 primarily serves to refine the mass by centralizing it, to reduce lateral bulk, to lower the center of gravity. The result is a motorcycle that looks the competition in the eye, without complexes, like a Ducati 1098 or a Honda CBR1000RR, with 304 km/h at the end of a straight line to settle the debate.

The Factory version doesn't just consist of an RSV4 with an extra sticker. Öhlins suspensions, 43 mm inverted fork at the front, single shock absorber at the rear, offer a level of adjustability previously found almost exclusively on prepared competition machines. The steering head angle is modifiable, the swingarm anchor is also, the position of the engine in the perimeter aluminum frame can be adjusted. It's a motorcycle that is configured as much as it is ridden. Radial monoblock Brembo calipers on 320 mm front discs, forged aluminum rims, a few carbon fiber elements: at 20,000 euros, the equipment justifies the bill.

What is intriguing is the coherence of the project. Aprilia didn't try to be original for the sake of standing out. The double beam frame is conventional in form, effective in its results. The saddle is fixed at 845 mm, the ground clearance is adapted to an engaged sporty riding style. Diablo Superbike tires are fitted as standard, the monoplace rear frame, the absence of passenger footrests: all details that confirm that this machine is not aimed at the Sunday tourist. It’s a track-homologated sportbike, intended for track riders and experienced drivers who want a machine capable of taking them from one circuit to another without compromise.

The only downside remains the entry price of 20,000 euros, which positions the Factory significantly above contemporary Japanese alternatives. But Aprilia is selling here an experience and a positioning, not just a specification sheet. After years of dominating the small displacement categories, the brand from Noale signed with this RSV4 its serious return to the highest level. The track validated the calculation.