It seems a bit silly to be talking about the 2014 model year when we are only into our second month of 2012. However, such is the case today because a certain Max Biaggi let it slip during the Aprilia Racing Team’s World Superbike presentation that 2012 would be the penultimate season for the Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC. Adding that Aprilia would not be developing its race bike for the 2013 season, the signs would seemingly indicate that a new liter bike model from the Italian manufacturer is on the horizon for 2014.
Debuting in 2009, the Aprilia RSV4 would certainly be due for a revamp and upgrade in the next two years, which makes this rumor at least plausible, if not already presumable. Keep in mind, Aprilia let the RSV1000R run for six years before bringing out the RSV4, and before that, the RSV Mille had a pleasant five-year run of things. If we can take the production runs of those two bikes as any sort of indication from Aprilia, 2014 seems like the sweetspot on the RSV4’s lifecycle.
Already boasting some of the best electronics in the superbike market and a still impressive 180hp, its hard to imagine what changes Aprilia could make to the RSV4 in its next revision (assuming of course the RSV4 designation remains even). A power boost to keep up with the 195hp Ducati 1199 Panigale is surely something that can be expected, along with any number of technical wiz-bang features that we’ve seen trickle into the market segment. Electronically-adjustable suspension? ABS? LED headlamps? Unicorn tear dispensers? Only time will tell.
2012 Aprilia RSV4 Factory in WSBK-Spec:
Source: Two Wheels Blog
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