Aprilia Shiver 900 2022 — Specifications

When you know that a first version wasn't convincing, you come back with solid arguments or you pass. Aprilia chose the first option with the Shiver 900, the 2020 version of a mid-size roadster that needed a serious overhaul to claim to play in the same league as the Yamaha MT-09 or the Kawasaki Z900. The bet isn't won in advance, but it's honest.

The heart of the matter is obviously this V-twin engine boosted to 896 cm3. To achieve this, Aprilia lengthened the stroke by 11 mm without touching the bore, an approach classic for thickening the torque rather than chasing horsepower. The result is unambiguous: the 95 hp are identical to those of the previous version, but the torque climbs to 90 Nm, available from 6500 rpm. This engine doesn't roar, it pulls. The nuance is important to understand the character of this motorcycle. You're not in the fever of an English triple or a Japanese inline-four; you're in a generous V-twin that pulls generously, that never surprises you and that is exploited without a particular degree. For A2 license holders, a restriction kit allows adapting the machine to regulatory restrictions, which expands the target audience beyond confirmed motorcyclists only.

The chassis inherits the philosophy of the Shiver 750 with its combination of steel trellis frame and aluminum lateral plates, a solid and proven architecture. What changes is the 41 mm Kayaba inverted fork, adjustable in preload and rebound, and above all redesigned rims that lighten the unsprung mass by more than two kilos. Two kilos gained in that specific part of the vehicle is a perceptible transformation from the first corners. The Sachs rear shock absorber is adjustable in preload and rebound. The brakes adopt two 320 mm wave discs with radial four-piston calipers at the front, a 240 mm disc at the rear with a single-piston caliper, all coupled to a dual-channel ABS. The equipment is serious for a motorcycle at 8599 euros.

The Aprilia Shiver 900 2020 also receives a color TFT screen directly from the RSV4 and the Tuono V4, which is not a detail when considering the display quality of these machines. The ride-by-wire is retained in a 500-gram lighter version, with integrated traction control. Bluetooth is available as an option, as are some of the Aprilia Shiver 900 accessories available in the catalog: luggage, screen, carbon elements. Connectivity is not native as standard, which remains a point of friction compared to some more generous competitors in this area.

The Aprilia Shiver 900 opinion that can be formulated after analysis of this technical sheet is that of a sincere machine. It doesn't try to be what it is not. With 218 kg fully fueled, a seat at 810 mm and a top speed announced at 220 km/h, it positions itself as an accessible, versatile naked, suitable for the rider who seeks daily pleasure without buying an engine that overwhelms him. Faced with the MT-09 and its triple's fury, or the Z900 and its aggressive value-for-money, the Shiver 900 plays the card of Latin character and European finish. Its price of 8599 euros places it in a correct range, without being a giveaway. It deserves the Aprilia Shiver 900 test before final judgment, because the numbers alone are not enough to translate what this V-twin communicates through the handlebars.