Hub is back!!!!

Hubster, the RSV4 has the 65 degree V-4, complete in-house Aprilia design dating back to 2009. Aprilia is all about evolution rather than revolution. Group think is "why throw the baby out with the bath water"? Think Porsche 911 hear. This engine has grown from 150 BHP to 217 BHP while still being one of the most tractable race engines in it's class and producing a V-4 aural symphony like no other.

Upgrades for 2021 include, lower pegs by 10mm, lower seat height by 9mm,puts you more"in" the bike, increased cornering clearance by 1.5 degrees, stroked cylinder for displacement bump from 1072 to 1097 cc for more midrange torque but same claimed 217 BHP at the crank while still meeting Euro 5. New IMU/ECU with increased pin count for more sensor inputs, 4X microprocessor speed for more seamless traction control, wheelie control, etc. Increased memory for running more complex TC intervention strategies. New redesigned swingarm, MotoGP inspired with 30% increased torsion for better tire edge grip on corner exit. Redesigned down force generators moved into a layered fairing, mostly BS unless you are going 180 mph. Brakes are still top shelf Stylema components from Brembo, frame remains the same as before. Fairings and windscreen redesigned for more rider protection in the race tuck. 5 inch TFT color display has been upgraded for ease of use. APRC system now has added lean angle sensitive engine braking strategy and yes, it has seamless race upshift and auto-blip downshifts. Basically all of teh bells and whistles befitting the Aprilia flagship.

I'm looking at the RSV4 Standard, same as the Factory version but substitutes Sachs forks and shock for the Ohlins EC 2.0 semi-active suspension. Also has cast rather than forged Marchesini alloy wheels. Other than an up spec paint job which may or may not tickle your fancy, the rest is identical for $7000 less making the standard RSV4 the deal of the century.

OK HUbster, I've been researching this for months and it's down to this bike or the '22 Ducati V4 or the BMW S1000RR M Package. These are the three best liter class sport bikes you can buy.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/17/2022 @ 3:22 PM *

I was going to do a bunch of quoting and commenting but the long and the short of it is, if you're going to dump the money, you might as well get the best. It's a few thousand dollars and you're going to ride the bike for ten years at least. It's your bike. Do whatever appearance mods you want. The key is that you get the best one available now. You're going to keep that bike until you're ready to take a dirt nap anyway.

You better test ride that BMW if yer thinkin about it.I saw one rider review online...he wasn't real happy with it.He was at the track.

You better test ride that BMW if yer thinkin about it.I saw one rider review online...he wasn't real happy with it.He was at the track.

Talk to me Greenie, do you have the link to that rider review on the BMW? I mean you can find at least one guy to say something bad about just about any machine. Case in point, there were folks talking trash on the original '06 ZX-14. I've had mine for almost 16 years now and it's been one of the best bikes I ever owned, been very trouble free and still a top performer. In fact, I just had an idea for a new thread to see how many that bought a Gen 1 ZX-14 still have it. Me and Rook may be the only ones left lol and I may be the only one left with an original '06.

Here's the real problem folks, I am not really getting my switches flipped by any of these new bikes. The last time I was super excited about a new sportbike was waaaaay back in '06 when I bought my ZX-14. I've bought eight sportbikes since then, crashed out two of them and still have the rest in my garage except for my '12 CBR10000RR that I sold last week to my neighbor. I've also been retired for 3 years now and living on a government pension, so spending $20,000+ for a new sportbike takes a bit of thought as it's coming right out of my retirement funds. I would really like a 2022 Ducati V4 or V4S but I already have the '2016 Ducati 959 that looks pretty much the same and Ducatis are uber expensive. I don't really care for the BMW S10000RR, everyone seems to have one and they just don't float my boat. The new Aprilia RSV4 is the machine that most intrigues me, ticks all the right boxes.

I don't have that particular link.You can google reveiws and find some probably.And yeah I understand some people won't like new things.Lots of negative reviews about really good bikes out there.

If you join up on some ape site, they'll probably be jumping in the lake with the rest by removing the intake snorkel. Don't know if the v4 has the same intake system, just saying to keep it stock. The move was to have more top speed, but you lost the grunt by removing it. I leave from a light to have some distance behind me. The darting away was more like, 'what just happened,' as again, carry the front end from a dead stop was just playing with air speed. Put the snorkel back on, had that bottom end come back.

I'll be ready to hear the ape vs duc handling. Not really interested in speed with either one of these. I know who king is. Had some guy on a duc follow me so I played with him. He became a dot in the straights, but back on my ass in the tight stuff. Now if you say the duc handles better, I might rethink a duc.

I don't know yet Hub on the question of Ducati V4S versus RSV4 handling but every report I have read puts the RSV4 at the top of the handling heap and that includes the BMW S1000RR. Power wise I think the RSV4 has the edge on those two as well, stock for stock. The '21 RSV4 is rated 217 HP at the crankshaft and I am seeing dyno runs on the '21 stock anywhere between 190 HP to 202 HP at the rear tire, so at or near the pointy end there as well. The BMW does seem to rev out a little more and has strong midrange for a pure 1000cc. The RSV4 and BMW curves look very similar throughout the rev range with the RSV4 having better throttle response. The strong points of the latest RSV4 appear to be stable but agile handling and very useable power with 80% of peak torque occuring at 6800 rpm, so strong in the midrange.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIAR5e3Z4_c

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/18/2022 @ 11:37 AM *

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIAR5e3Z4_c

RSV4 review starts at 15:46. This test was on the Isle of Man TT Course, I trust what Boothy says here, he is a former top 15 finisher in the IOM Senior TT.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/18/2022 @ 11:57 AM *

I dunno Grn, this thing is starting to grow on me, maybe Hub is right, grey is the way to go...

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/18/2022 @ 3:03 PM *

I think it looks fine.Does it to you?That's what counts.Sounds like nice new upgrades.CF is always available.Any bike looks better in person anyhow.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 2/18/2022 @ 10:07 PM *

Grn, I've been talking about buying one of these for months, been into the dealer twice with checkbook in hand but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I'm an impulse buyer, I'll do exhaustive research but I have to be triggered emotionally to pull out my checkbook if that makes sense. A lot of my hesitancy is down to this dealer, I don't care for them at all. Not sure if it's due to the Pandemic nonsense but they act like I can take it or leave it and they don't really care if I buy a bike from them or not. Has not been a pleasant experience but the only other choice is to drive 4 hours to Austin and buy one from AF1 Racing who seem friendlier.

I have researched this to death and I'm down to three bikes, Ducati Panigale V4, BMW S1000RR or the Aprilia RSV4.

Without question the Ducati is the best looking bike of the bunch and by a long way, in my opinion. The fit and finish of the Duck is also a cut above the rest. The sound is OK but it sounds too much like my 959 twin which is strange considering it's a V-4 engine. The V-4 is known as being incredibly fast but a little edgy in the handling department, probably down to the lack of a traditional frame and did I mention they are expensive?

From a purely clinical sense, the BMW wins on points alone but doesn't stir my soul. I've looked at the '22s at my local BMW dealer and the M series (Motorad Colors) is the only one I like at all and it is near the Ducati price wise. In my mind, the Beemer is an expensive Honda, fast but safe in a characterless way.

The RSV4 intrigues me. It is a 13 year old platform dating back to 2009 and Aprilia, through constant development, has managed to keep it at the very tip of the sportbike performance spear. It is a perennial favorite with sportbike magazine editors, the testers love it. They have also traditionally been some of the best looking sportbikes on the market and the fit and finish was always top shelf. This year they cheapened the paint and took all of the carbon fiber off and replaced it with cheap looking plastics. But to their credit, they introduced what is probably the most extensive performance updates in years and managed to keep the price the same.

This will most likely be the last bike I buy, I'm turning 67 in April, can't see continuing to ride sportbikes forever and I want this last one to be the best.

Both my heart and head are saying buy the Aprilia, just do it!

And then there's THIS.. Me likes.

That is truly frightening Grn, she would be dangerous to herself and others on a Honda Ruckus much less a 215 HP BMW Superbike. Maybe it's time for me to take up golf or basket weaving...

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/19/2022 @ 10:38 AM *

How bout THIS then?VERY nice

Grn, what the hell is that??

A BMW.Here's one ya might like...I'm diggin it.
I think that upper one is a 1200 or something.Maybe bigger.1290?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 2/19/2022 @ 9:02 PM *

OMG Grn..... It's like you've spun off into another dimension or an alternate universe....lol!

lol.Maybe...They'd have to shape that lower fairing though.DEFINITELY not enough lean clearance!(I just can't leave well enough alone can I?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 2/20/2022 @ 7:25 PM *

If I had a kazillion dollars, I'd own a bunch of 2000 hp sportbikes that couldn't be ridden but they looked cool. Maybe that's the endgame of all of this, you sit back and look at them.

I'm drawn to the silver with the touch of red up front!!! Looks sick. I think less is more

by the way you don't see color whilest carving......

I'm drawn to the silver with the touch of red up front!!! Looks sick. I think less is more

Thanks for that positive commentary Doug, I think the silver/gray one is OK and it will probably grow on me as I add a pipe and some carbon fiber tidbits as accents. The main thing is the riding experience, which I think will be stellar. You only live once, might as well do all the living you can while you still can....

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/21/2022 @ 8:23 AM *

ol.Maybe...They'd have to shape that lower fairing though.DEFINITELY not enough lean clearance!(I just can't leave well enough

Looks like something Mel Gibson would have been riding in Mad Max Beyond Thunder Dome...