Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE 2011 — Specifications

When Noale stamps a number 1 on the airbox of a production motorcycle, it's not marketing. It's a declaration of war. Max Biaggi gave Aprilia his first World Superbike title in 2010, and the Italian firm decided to capitalize on this victory by launching a special edition that transforms racing electronics into standard equipment. The Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE is not a simple collector's version with a tricolor body. It's a successful attempt to put the tools used by official teams on race tracks around the world into the hands of a civilian rider.

Under the fairing, the compact 999 cc V4 turns at a compression ratio of 13:1 with a bore of 78 mm for a stroke of 52.3 mm. Power remains pegged at 180 horsepower at 12,500 rpm, torque reaches 115 Nm at 10,000 rpm, and the announced top speed flirts with 304 km/h. These figures do not change compared to the standard Factory, but the lubrication system has been revised, and efforts are focused on the electronics for the APRC edition. The Aprilia Ride Control Performance package brings together four distinct systems. The ATC traction control is adjustable in eight levels and can even be calibrated according to the type of tire fitted, a subtlety usually found in pit lanes, not in dealerships. The AWC anti-wheelie optimizes traction without wasting power in unnecessary wheelies. The ALC launch control offers three levels of departure, for mastered 0 to 100 km/h accelerations even when the V4 screams at full load. The AQS quickshifter finally allows gear changes without touching the clutch or closing the throttle.

Mechanically, the base remains what enthusiasts have known since 2009: 43 mm Ohlins inverted fork with TIN surface treatment, double-sided aluminum swingarm, radial Brembo Monobloc calipers, lightweight forged rims for a dry weight of 179 kg. The seat height at 845 mm clearly positions the motorcycle on the side of riders with a robust build, and the 17-liter tank ensures reasonable range for track use. The exhaust receives a new, more streamlined shape, the rear tire goes to a more versatile 190/55-17 instead of the 200 offered on some markets, and the six-speed gearbox ratios have been recalibrated.

Faced with the competition of 2011, the positioning is clear. The Ducati 1198 SP plays the same premium card with its Desmodromic single cylinder and Italian sophistication, but the Aprilia V4 responds differently in the fast corners, with a more favorable mass centralization and a sound unique to this configuration. The Honda CBR1000RR and the Kawasaki ZX-10R remain four-cylinder inline references, more accessible in price, less accomplished in terms of electronics. At 21,999 euros, the APRC SE is not a motorcycle for beginners, neither financially nor dynamically. It is a tool designed for the rider who knows his limits and wants to push them methodically.

The large 1 painted on the airbox, visible from the riding position, summarizes the ambition of this edition. It's not a decoration. It's a constant reminder that the machine beneath you has proven what it is capable of at the highest level of World Superbike. For those who master their subject, the Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE is probably the production motorcycle most directly connected to the world of racing in 2011. For others, the 180 horsepower and sophisticated electronics will be enough to remind them at the first corner taken too short.