Aprilia Australia has announced local pricing for the limited edition 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF.
At $32,000 (ride-away) it’s certainly not a cheap motorcycle, but then it’s not your average sports bike either.
For 2016 the RSV4 is available in two specification levels – RR and RF – and only 500 of the RF variant will be made available worldwide.
Both versions have received some significant updates in order to meet the regulations for this year’s Superbike World Championship.
The new rules allow fewer modifications to the production machines competing, so Aprilia has applied many of the changes it wants for the race bike to the road going production models.
The engine has a new crankshaft, connecting rods, and cylinder head.
It also now has forged camshafts and titanium exhaust valves. The previous model already had titanium inlet valves and these have been retained.
There’s a new airbox, variable length intake funnels and a revised exhaust as well.
The engine mapping has also been revised to give a smoother and more linear power delivery.
All the changes to the engine have increased power by around 16hp, and the 1000cc V-Four engine now just breaks the magical 200hp mark at a claimed 201hp or 148kW.
The bike has been lightened to a dry weight of just 180kg making this the lightest and most powerful RSV4 ever produced.
To cope with the increase in power, the chassis has been redesigned to lower the centre of gravity and the swingarm has been lengthened.
Front brakes are dual 320mm stainless steel discs with four piston Brembo M430 monobloc radial calipers.
The rear has a 220 mm diameter disc with a twin piston Brembo caliper.
The 2016 RSV4 is a heavily updated machine, and since it’s release last year it has been getting sensational reviews around the world.
The RF model lifts the bar just that bit further with uprated suspension, wheels and electronics.
Instead of the Sachs suspension of the RR version, the RF has race specification Öhlins components both front and rear.
The RF also has an adjustable Öhlins steering damper replacing the non-adjustable Sachs unit fitted to the RR.
The wheels are forged aluminium alloy with 5 split spokes.
Both variants of the RSV4 have the APRC System (Aprilia Performance Ride Control), which includes traction control, wheelie control, and launch control. All of these functions can be configured and deactivated independently.
But Aprilia has added an updated version of its Multimedia Platform to the RF model which allows a smartphone to communicate with the bike. Changes to the settings can then be made directly from the smartphone app.
The Aprilia RSV4 RF will be available from April and Australian stocks will be very limited. Aprilia dealers are already taking orders.