Aprilia RSV4 1100 2022 — Specifications

Take a 65-degree V4, increase its displacement to 1099 cc, add 217 horsepower expressed at 13,000 rpm, sprinkle in a six-axis inertial platform directly inspired by MotoGP, and place it all on a mere 202 kilograms. You get the Aprilia RSV4 1100, a machine that has little to prove on the track, but still chooses to do so with every outing.

What immediately strikes you with the 2022 version is the consistency of the whole. Aprilia hasn't simply increased displacement to tick a marketing box. The move from 999 to 1099 cc is accompanied by a simplified swingarm, reduced from seven to three elements, saving 600 grams on the scale. The perimeter twin-spar aluminum frame receives an engine whose position remains adjustable, as does the rake angle. For seasoned track riders, this is a level of adjustability that the Japanese in the category, the CBR1000RR-R in particular, do not offer with such generosity. The 43 mm inverted fork and the fully adjustable rear monoshock complement a chassis designed for those who really know how to use it. This level of personalization is a double-edged sword: find the right setting and you fly, miss it and the bike makes you pay.

The Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory borrows its winglets directly from the paddock. These small spoilers integrated into the fairings are not just for show: they reduce wheelies on corner exits, stabilize the machine beyond 200 km/h, and contribute to the cooling of the V4. At 300 km/h at the end of a straight, you understand why Aprilia insists on it. The Brembo braking system, with its four-piston calipers biting 330 mm discs at the front and a 220 mm disc at the rear, is up to the displayed top speed. The whole is managed by an adjustable cornering ABS, which purists can deactivate if they feel really adventurous. The seat, as hard as a gravestone, regularly reminds you that this bike is designed for the track, not for touring. On the track, you don't care. On the road, you curse it after two hours.

The electronics represent the real selling point of the Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory 2022. The APRC centralizes traction control on eight levels, wheelie control on five levels, launch control with three positions, a bidirectional quickshifter, a pit limiter, and even a cruise control. Six riding modes in total, three of which are fully customizable, allow you to transform the bike into a sensible commuter or a track beast according to your mood. The weight reduction achieved by integrating this electronic suite into the Ride By Wire reaches 590 grams, which counts on a competition machine. The MIA system connects the smartphone for music and calls at the handlebars, a detail that amuses as much as it questions the target clientele, but why not.

Priced at 18,499 euros, the Aprilia RSV4 1100 positions itself against the Ducati Panigale V4 and the BMW M 1000 RR in a category where compromises are expensive. It is not the cheapest, nor the lightest, but it offers a level of adjustability that few of its competitors match in standard configuration. Its natural audience is that of trackday riders who want a competitive bike without going through the office of an official team. For mixed road-track use, it is perfectly suitable, provided you accept its demands. For touring or a beginner discovering power, looking elsewhere will be wiser and less costly in sliders.