Feel free to feast your eyes on the all-new 2009 Aprilia RSV4 which would be the Italian manufacturer's new entry into the World Superbike Championship for 2009. Initial production is planned in 2008, and fans will wave farewell to its predecessor the RSV1000R.
Powered by Aprilia's first four cylinder engine, the RSV4 should have about 180hp in street trim from its 999c V-4, designed specifically with racing intentions. The new engine features complete electronic management and will feature a ride-by-wire system with several interchangeable engine mappings to suit the rider for every situation.
Its racing intentions are loudly echoed throughout the rest of the bike. A six-speed gearbox coupled to a slipper clutch would definitely ease and quicken downshifts for less-experienced riders while enabling expert riders to fully push the bike to its maximum capabilities. Its unique aluminium frame and swingarm will allow a very wide range of parameter adjustments to suit every rider, even as far as to allowing tuning of the swingarm and engine positions.
As you would expect of a bike at this level, the fork, rear shock & steering damper are all sourced from Ohlins, with monoblock calipers from Brembo and forged aluminium wheels. With a claimed wet weight of only 190kgs, we can expect this new Italian litre bike to be properly fast on and off the track.
In race spec, the RSV4 would be making close to 210-hp to make it at least up to par with Ducati's 1098R and the Japanese litre bikes. With years of GP racing experience, it will be interesting to see how much of that experience and race technology would have trickled down to the new RSV4 and its V-4 engine. Would it become the benchmark for V-4 superbikes to come?
Needless to say, 2009 sounds like a great year for WSB. Keep a look out for new & updated bikes, including the possibly revolutionary BMW S1000RR.
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