We have already shown you some pictures of the super sportive Aprilia in testing at Mugello, powered by “V4 race machine” engine released last year. Our photographer has snapped some interesting dynamics which are particularly interesting.
Our photographer was positioned by the side of the circuit to take pictures so we could make tyre comparisons, but!, in between tyre changes a very strange RSV passed by which didn’t make the usual bi-cylinder sound. We have shown you these pictures before because they were only just taken from the camera today!
Besides the beautiful leans of the test driver – we’re going to try to comment on a few particulars.
The undercarriage is of an RSV but from this angle you can see that it is open at the front “closed” by a panel which presumably respects the petrusion of the engine casing and the oil pan. (Remember this is a wet clutch).
The other side shows much the same but the note the extended oil and water radiators to maximise the cooling of the engine which, when tuned to race mode, shouldn’t have less than 180 horsepower.
The 65 degree 4 cyclinder V 1000cc engine will probably see its way to bikes destined for road use but the noise and emissions will have to be made legal. Probably by placing the catalytic converter in those big exhaust pipes.
If the specs are going to follow those announced in Milan in 2006, the V4 Aprilia should have ride-by-wire, anti-stall clutch and two fuel injectors.
One of the test riders at Mugello. Not bad this “RSV”
In the paddock we saw Marcellino Lucchi and Fabrizio Pellizzon – which one is which?
Nice one Afro:)I guess its the engine they are concentrating on, they have wrapped any old thing around it to test it:)Since the Shiver they must have the bug for making their own engines now:w00t:
Underneath those RSV skins is actually, new chassis, engine and suspension.According to some guys I spoke to at an Aprilia dealership, they reckon the basic machine will sell for about £13,500
Looks interesting, I’d say the 220BHP claim is a load of billhooks if it’s for the road version though !
Wonder if it’ll be ready soon enough to be featured on their stand at the bike show ? Would be nice to see it in the flesh, even if it is just a pre-production display model ?
I presume they’re counting those ponies at the crank … so the bike’s probably (being pessimistic) making around 200 at the rear wheel. That’s at least as much as a ZZR14. I reckon that’s a bit optimistic. Having said that, it looks as though the end result is going to be an awesome piece of kit to ride! Oh yes yes yes!! You can be sure of it!!!
yes the v4 has to be the way to go smoother engine, better pulses to the rear wheel, better tyre life etc etc…sounds great…why do jap bikes stick with the in line four when the other deisgns have so much more to offer…its all a bit confusing…would love to have 200bhp at the rear wheel…hmm amazing…would need special tyres…
Well looking at the translated post, they’re only claiming 180 at the rear in racing trim, so that’s about 200 at the crank, dunno where the 220 figure came from ? Perhaps Toby was right a while back & Afro1 is on crack ? :hehe:
Because I4s are a tried and tested, cost effective engine design and building a small, high performance yet reliable V4 is an expensive task.
Typical jap power loss between crank & rear wheel for a chain drive transmission is approx 10% 220 to 180 is near 20% so perhaps they should send a little less time on the grappo & more time on the gearbox engineering ! :P:P
:hehe: