2010 Aprilia RSV4 R - First Look

Aprilia still had a couple of cards up its sleeve for 2010, which it played at the Imola round of the World Superbike Championship in Italy. One was Marco Simoncelli, reigning 250cc champion, replacing the injured Shinya Nakano on the second RSV4 entry. Second was the unveiling of the RSV4 R, a much more accessible version of the highly sophisticated RSV4 superbike—the R version is expected to be priced 25 percent under the limited-edition Factory model, though U.S. prices for the bikes have not yet been set.

Good news is that the 65-degree V-Four powerhouse is in exactly the same state of tune, R or Factory: two injectors fueling each cylinder and an engine-management system that offers three operational modes (Track, Sport and Road) to modulate the manner in which the engine delivers horsepower.

Where Aprilia saved money on the R is in the rolling gear. A Showa 43mm fork and Sachs shock replace precious Öhlins units front and rear. Frame geometry is not adjustable as on the Factory and rake is set at 24.3 degrees. Brakes are related to those on the RSV4, being Brembo all around—320mm twin rotors up front teamed to radial-mount, four-piston calipers, not monoblocs in this case but still a very reliable setup. Wheels are cast aluminum.

The RSV4 R is slightly heavier than the RSV4 Factory, tipping the scales at a claimed 405 pounds dry (with no battery). Still, the combination is one of the hottest on the market, and the lower price now makes it a lot more attractive in terms of price-to-performance ratio.