2016 Aprilia RSV4 R-FW 230bhp Race Bike
2016 Aprilia RSV4 R-FW 230bhp Race Bike
We knew Aprilia were going to do something awesome with the epic RSV4, in terms of a track-only machine, but we honestly didn’t know just how special it would be…
What was once the preserve of race teams can now be bought by anyone, thanks to Aprilia, and it seems as though they’re catering for many wallet sizes at the same time, albeit still not at the cheap end of the scale! Then again, quality costs.
Prices are yet to be revealed, as are the schemes for adding or removing items to adjust the cost, but we do know there are five models to choose from. And, when it comes to a track only bike, we doubt you’ll find better on offer than any of these!
As Aprilia themselves put it – Aprilia Racing, the Racing Division that has earned the Noale-based manufacturer 54 World Titles, introduced a program today to make the same technology that was developed for the championship winning bike available to anyone who wishes to compete in factory derivative championships or who wants an RSV4 with racetrack optimised performance – meaning they’re there for you to go racing on, or racing your mates on, or just thrapping around a track on and if you’ve got the cash, you can have a track bike that genuinely makes over 210bhp at the rear wheel. Wow…
The five models are as follows:
RSV4 R-FW Stock1 MM Race
An Aprilia RSV4 with Race Pack (Öhlins suspension and forged rims).
Standard electronic system with an extra light lithium battery.
ECU reprogrammed to Race version with race maps for engine and bike management, developed by Aprilia Racing.
Settings reprogrammed for race use.
Braking optimised and weight reduced, ABS removed
Engine weight reduced without the water thermostat, with a simplified water tubes kit and secondary air system closed.
Optional: Akrapovic exhaust kit, complete fairing kit, dedicated suspensions setting and complete engine optimisation.
RSV4 R-FW Stock2 APX Race
An Aprilia RSV4 with Race Pack (Öhlins suspension and forged rims).
Simplified, lightweight, racing version electronic system with dedicated bike and engine wiring and a lithium battery.
APX2 logic unit developed by Aprilia Racing: ignition and engine control parameters may be programmed with the included hand terminal.
Data acquisition system allows logging of original sensors as well as optional sensors allowed by FIM Superstock 1000 rules.
Special Aprilia Racing instruments.
Special engine with Aprilia Racing preparation.
Optional: Akrapovic exhaust kit, complete fairing kit, dedicated suspensions setting.
Then it gets really serious…
RSV4 R-FW SBK
An Aprilia RSV4 with Race Pack (Öhlins suspension and forged rims).
Simplified, lightweight, racing version electronic system with dedicated bike and engine wiring and a lithium battery.
APX2 logic unit developed by Aprilia Racing, complete with GPS module, ignition and engine control parameters may be programmed with the included hand terminal. The unit includes a data acquisition system with optional telemetry sensors kit.
Special Aprilia Racing instruments with racing buttons.
Electronic gearbox with assisted shifting (blipper).
Special Aprilia Racing tools.
Special engine with SBK preparation by Aprilia Racing.
RSV4 R-FW W-SBK
Replica of the RSV4 Superbike used by the official Aprilia Racing Team in the SBK Wold Championship.
Both the bike and the level of assistance may be tailor made in accordance with the budget and ambitions of each rider and team.
It is the best that can be desired and allows one to have a star role in the Superbike world championship.
And then, finally…
RSV4 R-FW ‘MISANO’
The bike presented at EICMA is a demonstration of the level of preparation possible through the ‘Factory Works’ program and is the entry level for the W-SBK line.
In true Aprilia Racing style each component has been optimised to offer the best in performance while maintaining elevated overall balance and reliability.
It is a bike that can do well at any competitive level, while remaining “within reach” of enthusiasts who desire an extraordinary bike to exercise their racing skills, knowing that nothing can come closer to the rush felt by SBK World Championship champions.
The colour scheme is a celebration of Aprilia’s first victory in a ‘road racing’ competition and underscores the exclusivity of the model
That is astonishing, although we believe the one most relevant to us normal folks is the first, the Stock1 MM Race. Unless you’re minted, in which case, go nuts!
Aprilia’s racing boss also had some words to say about the new program:
Romano Albesiano – “The RSV4 racing versions we are presenting at EICMA are, first and foremost, a unique opportunity that Aprilia Racing is making available to those who want to own a real race bike. At the Aprilia Racing Division we worked to pack all the know-how behind the RSV4 into these exceptional bikes: know-how which has made the RSV4 one of the top winning bikes in the history of production-derived bikes. The SSTK Championship victory this year is an addition to 7 world titles we’ve won in the SBK. Now all the experience we have acquired through these victories is available to whoever wants to race with our bike: both those who want to participate in championships and those who want to ride a real Aprilia Racing bike on the racetrack. We’re making several levels of sophistication available. This is a racetrack optimised RSV4, from the SSTK version (in every way the bike that dominated the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup) all the way to the top, a full-fledged Superbike”.
So, the top spec’ version makes 230bhp at the crank. But as the stock RSV4 RF or RR makes 200bhp at the crank (184bhp rear-wheel on our dyno), you can expect the lower spec’ versions to still be pretty healthy, banging on the door of a genuine 200bhp at the rear wheel on the Superstock model. And that, ladies and germs, is more than enough for most of us bar actual racers.
Prices are yet to be confirmed, but as soon as we get them, we’ll let you know.
source:fastbikes
Click here to view Aprilia RSV4 Performance Parts & Carbon Fibre
- Published in Motorcycles
New 2016 Ducati 959 Panigale
New 2016 Ducati 959 Panigale
New 959 Panigale, +6%BHP, +8% torque, 157BHP, 107NM, 1299 fairing side exhaust like on the Japanese Panigale, except for USA, Canada & Australia.
Powered by a revised 955cc Superquadro motor, the 959 punts out a claimed 157bhp at 10,500rpm by lengthening the stroke from 57.2mm to 60.8mm, while the bore remains the same at a nice, round 100mm. Trackdayers and Sunday racers rejoice, as Ducati engineers have also inserted some all-new con-rods to cope with the longer stroke and meatier performance.
Chassis wise, the 959 ‘Gale has a dry weight of 157kg and some wider front fairings. Although the front-end geometry from the 899 remains, the swingarm pivot has been lowered by 4mm (a bit of a surprise) to give a 51%/49% weight distribution in favour of the front.
Back to those exhausts: having seen pandemonium across social media, let’s just put things into perspective. Standard 899s and 1299s have been struggling with noise limits at 99% of circuits in the UK, so the new configuration will undoubtedly do something to remedy Betty and Cyril’s miraculous hearing enhancements and constant moaning.
Other than the aforementioned, that’s about it when it comes to headline aspects. It comes rolling with the usual Panigale electronics suite, sprung by the same Showa/Sachs suspension partnership, and Brembos obviously do the stopping.
TBC but the Ducati 959 Panigale will cost you £13,295.
Click here for Ducati 959 Panigale Performance Parts & Accessories
- Published in Motorcycles
New 2016 Ducati Scrambler Flat Track Pro
New 2016 Ducati Scrambler Flat Track Pro
Ducati Scrambler Flat Track Pro is designed as a speeding machine. It features dedicated livery, fuel tank in racing yellow, aluminium rear view mirrors, sporty headlight fairing, alloys with yellow outlines, CNC footpegs, CNC sprocket cover, full throttle exhaust, dedicated number plate, dedicated seat fabric, etc.
More details will be revealed soon. Stay tuned.
Click here for Ducati Scrambler Parts & Accessories
- Published in Motorcycles
New 2016 Ducati Scrambler Sixty2
New 2016 Ducati Scrambler Sixty2
Ducati has officially taken wraps off the new Scrambler variants, one of them is the much awaited 400 cc entry level variant.
At the EICMA (Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori), also known as the Milan Motorcycle Show in Italy, Ducati unveiled a total of seven new bikes. Two of them are Scrambler variants – Sixty2 and Flat Track Pro.
Of the two, Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 is powered by a new 399 cc single cylinder desmodromic air cooled engine. This engine generates a peak power of 41 hp. Not much is known, except that this entry level Ducati gets Showa 41 mm front forks in the front, steel tube swingarm at the rear, has a 14 litter steel fuel tank with dedicated logo, dry weight of 167 kg, and a new black silencer cover.
Click here to view Ducati Scrambler parts
- Published in Motorcycles
MV Agusta F4 RC First Test Ride Review
MV Agusta F4 RC First Test Ride Review
We’ve nailed a real beauty here – The first ride of an MV Agusta F4 RC by anyone outside of MV itself. At least, we are as far as we can gather media-wise, which can’t be a bad effort, can it? Yep, we got our hands on one before anyone else, anywhere. Us FB cats have truly had our cream…
So, let’s see – 212bhp, 111Nm of torque, 175kg, the finest carbon fibre and suspension known to man, and looks to die for? Bring it on! What do we think of it? Well, the full test you can read in a future magazine (issue 303 out on June 23rd), but we’re happy to tease with a few thoughts on the most incredible F4 MV have ever produced. Thus, here are five observations on this little beauty.
1 – It is unbelievably, jaw-droppingly gorgeous to behold – Okay, this is probably the easiest thing you could work out for yourselves, but even we were stopped dead in our tracks when we met it for the first time. The attention to detail is fantastic, build-quality has surpassed other current versions of the F4 (which was already top notch), and it really does merit its staggering asking price of a pound shy of £31,000 on looks and detail alone. This one had just begun the tentative transformational first steps into becoming a race bike, so had the achingly delicious full Termignoni titanium full-system fitted, as well as a few of the bits and pieces that come in the carbon-fibre race-pack box. Even the simple yet stunning rearsets are there to be admired, and the carbon fibre fairings are boss. It really is wondrous.
2 – It’s rather fast – With a claimed 212bhp (crank figure), you wouldn’t expect it to be slow and it certainly isn’t, oh no… The RC is surprisingly usable for what’s essentially a WSB machine on the road, but it’s when the tacho rises that you get your real kicks. And it’s further up the rev scale that it really impresses. When you’d expect it to start tailing off, it kicks in again hard like a steel-capped boot up the jacksie, screaming through those beautiful open pipes a rapturous cacophony that demanded anybody within a mile turned around and took notice. As eye-ball widening rides go, this is one that makes you go “Ooooh, shiii….”
3 – You can really feel the weight loss – The RC is a solid handling bike, pukka geometry and Öhlins’ finest ensure that, but it’s the diet notching it down to 175kg that really shines through. The latest F4s all handle really well, but this one adds a previously missing flickability to the solid cornering skills. Chuck in a wonderfully intuitive riding position allied to super responsive input ratios, and you have a bike you’d happy ride on road or track every day for the rest of your life.
4 – It’s got real character – Traditionally firing inline four cylinder machines suffer from a slight lack of character during these days of cross-pane cranks, V4s, blaring triples and huge thumping twins. Not the RC, it lives and breathes, kicks and screams in a way a Suzuki GSX-R or Honda Fireblade can only dream of. Even the bolshy BMW S 1000 RR, while bonkers, is a dweeb sat alone in the corner of the wine bar, compared to the RC which is making every woman under the roof swoon, while arm-wrestling anyone who fancies being humiliated by the smartly dressed, dashing cad. You drink in its essence sat onboard, it talks to you, flatters you just by sitting on it – it’s an overwhelmingly incredible experience. It doesn’t even sound like any other inline four around, it rocks to its own beat, and that beat is terribly catchy.
5 – They’re all sold out – At least, we think they are, there may be one or two somewhere around the globe but you’d better be bloody quick if you just happened to find £31k behind the fridge and want one. And, why wouldn’t you?! Otherwise you’ll have to wait until one comes up for sale, which could be a while. Only 250 are being made and a lot of those will end up on race tracks, like this one from Hampshire MV will at a BSB circuit near you soon. The rest will go to MV aficionados, collectors and those lucky (read – rich) enough to snap one up. Nope, we don’t like them any more than you do! 
Click on the link below to view MV Agusta parts
Source: Fastbikesmag
- Published in Motorcycle Review