Tag

Aprilia Performance Ride Control

Browsing

Aprilia is continuing its curious launches for its 2021 motorcycles, trickling out information about the machines over multiple “debut” releases.

While we still wait for a glimpse of the right-hand side of the 2021 Aprilia RSV4, today we are getting some new information about the soon-to-be-released Aprilia Tuono 660, which is going to change how this bike is perceived in the US market.

Launched at Piaggio’s dealer meeting in Monte Carlo, the Aprilia Caponord 1200 (AKA the Aprilia Tuareg 1200) has shown its face to the public, and a recognizable face it is. Clearly based on the Dorsoduro 1200 platform, the new Caponord 1200 draws its design cues from the Aprilia RSV4, which like the punch-drunk frat boy that it is, has spread its seed into the likes of the RS4 50, RS4 125, and SRV850 maxi-scooter, making for a budding family of bikes that look suspiciously similar. Strong brand marketing across the model line, or incestuous ideas at the drawing board? You make the call.

Fresh off its victory in the 2010 FIM World Superbike Championship, Aprilia is bringing its WSBK tech to the masses. Designated as Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC), The Italian company first debuted its 8-stage adjustable traction control, wheelie control, launch control, and a quick shifter package on the 2011 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC, which debuted at the 2010 EICMA show. Now the company from Noale is bringing that same electronics package to its more affordable Aprilia RSV4 R street machine as a standard feature on the 2011 Aprilia RSV4 R APRC.

Along with the added APRC system, the Aprilia RSV4 R APRC features an improved motor lubrication system, and the first three gears are spaced for better acceleration. The exhaust system has also been lightened by 2kg (just under 5 lbs).

The 2011 Aprilia RSV4 R APRC also comes with the same 200/55 x 17 dual-compound rear tire that’s found on the Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC. Other changes include lighter wheels, a fully-adjustable Sachs rear shock, better fuel consumption, and some new graphics. Pricing will be $16,999 in the United States, and £13,999 (exc. OTR) for our brothers in apex across the pond.

Aprilia is launching its RSV4 Factory APRC to the press for the first time in Jerez this week, allowing journalists to get their grubby mitts on the APRC, and see what this performance ride control stuff is all about. For those of us not in attendnace at Jerez, Aprilia has released a video that goes over the Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC’s new features, which we already covered here.

In the video we can see the rider launching the Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC from a dead-stop using the launch control mode. As we described earlier, enabling the launch control requires only selecting the program via the mode joystick, grabbing both of the left-hand side traction control buttons on the handlebar simultaneously to arm the launch control, and then all that’s left is aggressively twisting the grip to full-throttle, and you’re off (sans power wheelies).

Aprilia also demonstrates changing the traction control settings on-the-fly, and the AQS quick shift feature, which allows for clutchless and speedy shifting through the six-speed sequential gearbox. Aprilia goes through the rest of the RSV4 Factory APRC’s features in the video out after the jump.