THE TEN UNITS OF THE BIKE CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF AN EXTRAORDINARY PROJECT ARE ASSIGNED WITHIN A FEW HOURS
225 HP AND 165 KG, IT IS ONE OF THE LIGHTEST AND MOST POWERFUL BIKES OF ALL TIME, THE FIRST IN THE WORLD TO FEATURE A GEARBOX WITH NEUTRAL BELOW FIRST GEAR AND BREMBO GP4-MS CALLIPERS
DEVELOPED BY APRILIA RACING, THE HOLDER OF 54 WORLD TITLES, RSV4 X IS BORN WITH THE SOLE AIM OF OFFERING MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE ON TRACK
Just as the new Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory is starting to win in comparison tests arranged by the world's leading motorcycle magazines, thus reaffirming a long-standing technical superiority, Aprilia RSV4 X, the commemorative version built to celebrate ten years since the birth of the first model, sells out in a matter of hours.
Exclusively unveiled on 23 March at the Mugello circuit during Aprilia All Stars, the Aprilia-branded party that saw the participation of more than 10,000 motorcycle enthusiasts, Aprilia RSV4 X is developed by Aprilia Racing around the base of the RSV4 1100 Factory and produced in a limited run of just ten units.
Once online booking opened on factoryworks.aprilia.com, it was only a few hours before this jewel of Italian racing production sold out, a bike dedicated exclusively to the track and offered at a price of 39,900 Euro. The ten lucky buyers will collect their bikes directly from Aprilia Racing, the racing department in Noale opening its doors especially for the occasion.
The department's racing experience has been fully harnessed in order to lighten the Aprilia RSV4 X and achieve an exceptional dry weight of 165 kg. Aprilia Racing has selected a series of refined, lightweight components, such as the carbon fairing - enhanced with special dedicated graphics inspired by the livery of the 2019 MotoGP Aprilia RS-GP - as well as a more lightweight tank. Another obvious sports-derived element is the racing panel via which to adjust the main electronic controls of the RSV4 X. There are numerous billet aluminium details, such as the clutch lever, the front brake lever guard, the engine sump guards, the adjustable foot pegs and the upper steering plate, important details that make for a further weight saving. Marchesini forged magnesium wheels magnify the already spectacular handling of the RSV4 and mount Pirelli slick tyres.
The inimitable 1100 cc V4 engine is prepared directly by Aprilia Racing, the most advanced Piaggio Group platform for the development of technology applied first to racing bikes and then to factory models. This special preparation involves hand assembly and the subsequent fine-tuning of all tolerances, just as is done for competition engines. The distribution system is also overhauled, with the adoption of new intake camshafts, new valve return springs and caps, as well as brand-new rounded bucket tappets that, all sizes being equal, allow for the use of more aggressive, SBK-derived cam profiles.
The Akrapovic exhaust system features titanium collectors and a carbon outlet, while the air filter has been replaced with a Sprint Filter element, specifically the air filter that offers the highest permeability of those available on the market (as well as being waterproof), the same unit that Aprilia Racing uses in MotoGP. Electronic tuning is guaranteed by a specific ECU mapping, with dedicated track settings. These components ensure an increase in maximum power, from an already excellent 217 HP for the standard model, to the impressive 225 HP of the RSV4 X. The Aprilia V4 is equipped with the ANN system (Aprilia No Neutral), the gearbox with neutral positioned below first gear that speeds up shifting from first to second and prevents any up-shifting errors. A solution that derives directly from Aprilia's experience in SBK and MotoGP and that is made available on a model on public sale for the very first time.
Another world first comes in the shape of the Brembo braking system, the firm having selected the Aprilia RSV4 X for the debut of its sophisticated and extremely efficient GP4-MS billet callipers that act on a pair of steel discs with T-Drive technology and are controlled by a 19x16 billet radial pump.
Aprilia RSV4 X is part of the Factory Works programme launched by Aprilia Racing: unique in the world, it takes the technology developed for the Aprilia RSV4, a seven-time Superbike world champion, and makes it available to those planning to compete at high level in production-derived championships or who want a RSV4 with performance optimised for track-use.
Biaggi's parade lap astride his 1995 world championship RS 250, the sensational race with all the riders astride Aprilia SR 150 scooters, won in the final stretch by Manuel Poggiali and the display in pit lane of the bikes that have written Aprilia racing history filled an extraordinary day on which the public of Aprilia fans were protagonists. Participants ranged from those who are simply fans of the Italian brand, filling the grandstands and paddock that was livened up by music and games to the hundreds of fans in the Bearacer community who were able to meet the riders and share in a day of celebration with the entire team. And at the end, there was a spectacular parade of Aprilia bikes that invaded the circuit, the same track where the bikes from Noale, the most victorious bikes on the Tuscan hillside, have triumphed no less than 23 times in World GP races.