Aprilia Shiver 750 GT 2011 — Specifications

Taking an Italian streetfighter with a sharp temperament and grafting a few touring attributes onto it without betraying its character — that was the risky bet Aprilia made with the Shiver 750 GT. The result is more convincing than one might have expected.

The central modification is this half-fairing with its tall windscreen, integrated with genuine care into the muscular lines inherited from the SL 750. The profile loses a little of its rawness, but the rider gains real wind protection from 130 km/h onwards, which makes a real difference on a motorway stretch or under a capricious Breton sky. Aprilia also added an engine underbelly pan and, more notably, a dual-channel ABS option which, on a machine capable of brushing 220 km/h, is more a matter of common sense than a marketing gimmick.

Under the bodywork, nothing changes — and that's good news. The 750 cc V-twin, with its 92 mm bore and 56 mm stroke, produces 95 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 80.9 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. These are sound figures, well spread across the rev range, making the Aprilia Shiver 750 GT an effective mount both in the city and on twisty routes. The 6-speed gearbox delivers its changes cleanly, and the chain drive raises no reliability concerns in use.

The steel tubular frame with aluminium plates, 1,440 mm wheelbase, 43 mm inverted fork adjustable for preload and rebound, rear shock on an aluminium monoswingarm — the architecture is that of a serious sport bike, not a softened tourer. The dry weight quoted at 189 kg climbs to around 192 kg in riding order with the GT additions, which remains competitive against a Kawasaki Z750 or a Ducati Monster 796 of the same era. The 810 mm seat height rules out shorter riders, but the intended audience here knows exactly what they're looking for.

Listed at €8,199 at launch, the 2011 Aprilia Shiver 750 GT commands a premium of around €400 over the naked version. That's reasonable for what it brings to the table. On the used market, examples from 2009 to 2012 trade within a consistent price range depending on mileage and the presence of ABS. This is not a beginner's motorcycle: the 95 horsepower and the V-twin's responsiveness call for a minimum level of experience. For the versatile long-distance rider who wants character without the constraints of a true sport-tourer, the Aprilia Shiver 750 GT spec sheet speaks for itself.