Aprilia RSV4 1100 2020 — Specifications

Ten years of dominance on homologated circuits, and Aprilia decides to take the ultimate step. The RSV4 1100, in its most radical version, no longer complies with road regulations. No headlight, no rearview mirror, no registration possible. This is not an oversight by the engineers of Noale, but an assumed philosophical choice taken to the crankshaft’s limit.

The 1078 cm3 V4 is the center of gravity of this machine, both literally and figuratively. Assembled by hand by Aprilia Racing technicians, it develops 225 horsepower at 13,200 rpm and 122 Nm of torque at 11,000 rpm. To put it in perspective, that's more than what Max Biaggi exploited in WorldSBK. Bore and stroke dimensions of 81 x 52.3 mm translate to an engine designed to rev high and fast, not to dawdle around town. New camshafts, convex profile tappets, a Sprintfilter air filter based on MotoGP specifications, and a titanium exhaust system with an Akrapovic silencer transform this engine into a precision instrument, both sonically and thermodynamically. The APRC mapping follows suit, specifically tuned for this version so that each parameter corresponds exactly to what the engine can express on the track.

Where the Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory clearly distinguishes itself from its direct rivals, including the Yamaha R1 GYTR and Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Ryuyo, is in the overall coherence of the machine. The dual beam aluminum frame accommodates fully adjustable Öhlins suspension at both wheels, the fork benefiting from a TIN surface treatment to reduce friction. The Sachs mono-shock with remote reservoir, the double-sided aluminum swingarm, the Brembo GP4-MS calipers on 330 mm T-Drive discs constitute a technical base that has nothing to envy to championship machines. At 177 kg dry weight, 12 kg less than the standard version, it even achieves a lightness inferior to that of some Superbikes entered in official competition. This result is achieved via a full carbon fiber fairing, forged magnesium Marchesini wheels, and a series of specifically machined aluminum parts. The 18.5 liters of the fuel tank have also been revised downwards in terms of mass.

One technical detail deserves attention. The six-speed gearbox adopts a neutral position below first gear, a sequence of N-1-2-3-4-5-6. This is not an absolute innovation; some Japanese motorcycles of the 1970s already used this principle, but it is a rarity in the modern era. Aprilia’s argument relates to the speed of execution between the first two gears on slow corner exits, where every hundredth of a second counts. On a track like Valencia or Portimão, this kind of detail can weigh heavily.

Produced in only ten examples, this X version of the Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory 2019 is aimed at a very specific audience: experienced riders, capable of managing 225 horsepower on a chassis stretched to its maximum, and who are looking for a track experience without the constraints of a championship commitment. Its displacement of 1078 cm3 places it outside most open classes, which paradoxically constitutes its main competitive drawback. For someone who simply wants to push their own limits in free riding, it is an unparalleled proposition. The price, naturally, reflects this exclusivity, and subsequent year factory Aprilia RSV4 1100 versions, up to the Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory 2020 displayed at 18,900 euros or more recent generations, appear almost accessible in comparison. This X is not a motorcycle to buy. It is a motorcycle to earn.