UPDATE: Aprilia has confirmed that the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica will not be available for purchase directly in the US, and is bought directly from Aprilia Racing in Italy. The Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica is also upgradeable via Aprilia Racing’s catalog, which means gear-driven cam shafts, Biaggi swingarms, and all the other fun go-fast parts that are “publicly” available to meet WSBK regulations.
Well the rumors were true, as the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica was launched this weekend at the World Superbike races being held at Monza, Italy. Boasting the goodies found on Max Biaggi’s Aprilia RSV4 race bike, the RSV4 Biaggi Replica has an astounding 200hp motor strapped to its anorexic 175kg (385lbs wet sans fuel) frame. For that level of performance, you can expect some sticker shock, and the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica is no exception. Owning this true race replica will set you back €50,000, but it’s totally worth it, right? Photos and more after the jump.
The track-only Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica, comes with zero interest in taking the race-winning superbike onto regular street roads. Devoid of mirrors, signals, and headlights, this is a down-to-business track weapon…and Aprilia isn’t bringing a knife to this gunfight. We were admittedly wrong in our assessment to the rumors surrounding the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica, as we did not expect Aprilia to put a consumer-level track bike out at a price point so close to the Ducati Desmosedici RR (although it remains to be seen if this isn’t a thinly disguised privateer/satellite Aprilia team in WSBK, and there’s some hints to suggest this to be the case…but more on that later). The Desmo GP bike retails for about $7,000 more than the Aprilia at today’s market prices, and offers similar specs in a much sexier package, but still the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica is no slouch.
Aprilia’s press release tell us that the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica is a consumer product, but the rest of the verbiage clearly states that this offering from Aprilia Racing is a SBK legal racing machine that’s destined to a life of track duty. With fairings available in both the Alitalia Aprilia livery (Biaggi-style of course) or bare carbon, the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica can be used as an entry level class race bike in accordance with FIM Superbike regulations. Available for purchase directly from Aprilia Racing with a base price of €50,000, the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica can be set-up and prepared to the customer’s exact specifications, down to the tiniest detail. Aprilia Racing plans to also continually produce performance parts for the bike as the season continues. Now does this sound like just a mere consumer race replica to you?
Power from the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica comes in at 200hp, and will likely rip your eyes out of your skull while it puts down 92lbs•ft of torque. Ride-by-wire and four variable height intakes help keep things smooth on the dyno charts, while everything that goes into the intake culminates at the Akrapovic exhaust can found at the rear of the motor. Helping make the shifts happen more quickly is a slipper clutch assembly that’s mated to a handlebar mounted quickshifter system.
The frame of the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica is fully adjustable, and comes with 43mm Öhlins forks and a TTX36 Öhlins rear-shock. Braking comes from 320mm Brembo monoblocs with a radial master cylinder, as you would expect from a bike of this caliper. The real gem in keeping the chassis under control though is the electronics package that comes with the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica. Aprilia Racing’s APX system allows the rider to control the bike’s traction control, quickshift, anti-wheelie, and pit-speed systems…basically the electronics you’d expect on a high-caliber racing machine. Remember when we said we thought this sounded like a privateer World Superbike?
Technical Specification of the Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica:
Engine: Aprilia longitudinal 65° V-4 cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid cooling system, double overhead camshafts (DOHC), four valves per cylinder
Bore x Stroke: 78 x 52.3 mm
Total displacement: 999.6 cc
Maximum power at the crank: + 20 HP (more than production bike)
Maximum torque at the crank: +10 Nm (more than production bike)
Fuel system: Sealed airbox pressurized by two front dynamic air intakes. Four Weber-Marelli 48-mm throttle bodies actuated by “ride by wire” system, two injectors per cylinder and variable length intake ducts controlled and customizable by ECU device.
Ignition: One spark plug per cylinder powered by “stick-coil”-type controlled by Aprilia Racing Engine ECU APX2. Possibility of customization of ignition and injection tables and engine management parameters via ARES software. Light weight racing wire harness and dashboard showing laptime as well as main engine information.
Vehicle Management: Presence of enhanced vehicle management strategies: QuickShift, TCS, AntiBacklash, Engine Braking, Distance Based, Gear Power Reduction, Speed Limiter for Box Entry. Possibility of fast parameters modification with Aprilia Racing Palm system and handlebar switches.
Data Management: Acquisition of engine and vehicle working parameters for optimized vehicle management and strategies. Acquisition Data Management via ABM Lite software. Starting: Electric.
Exhaust: Akrapovich titanium 4 into 2 into 1 with single lateral carbon-titanium silencer.
Generator: Flywheel mounted 420W alternator with rare earth magnets.
Lubrication: Wet sump lubrication system with oil radiator and two oil pumps (lubrication and cooling).
Gear box: 6-speed cassette type gearbox 1st: 39/15 (2.6) 2nd: 33/16 (2,063) 3rd: 34/20 (1.7) 4th: 32/22 (1,455) 5th: 34/26 (1,308) 6th: 33/27 (1,222) with “quick shift” sensor.
Clutch: Multi-disc wet, with mechanical slipper system.
Primary drive: Straight cut gears and integrated flexible coupling, drive ratio: 73/44 (1,659).
Final drive: Regina Racing drive chain with final drive ratio: 40/16 (2,5)
Frame: Twin-spar adjustable aluminum frame, with castings and pressings. Envisaged adjustments: • headstock position and rake • engine height • swingarm pin height. Adjustable racing footrest. Racing handlebar and mount with conical coupling. Öhlins adjustable steering dumper with dedicated damping stack. Measure: wheelbase: 1440mm, steering angle: 24.5°, trial: 105mm, seat height 880mm.
Front suspension: Öhlins upside-down fork adjustable in spring preload, compression and rebound. 43-mm inner tubes (with Tin surface treatment) equiped with pressurized Ohlins Racing cartridges with dedicated damping stack and forged aluminum radial caliper mountings. Wheel travel: 120 mm with Racing upper triple clamp
Rear suspension: Twin sided aluminum swingarm; mixed low thickness and sheet casting technology. Öhlins Racing TTX36 shock adjustable in length, spring preload compression and rebound with dedicated damping stack. APS progressive linkages. Wheel travel: 120 mm
Brakes: Front: Dual floating disk with 320-mm diameter lightweight stainless steel rotor and 6 pin aluminum flange. Brembo monoblock radial callipers with 4 34-mm pistons and racing sintered pads. Radial pump and metal braided brake hose. Rear: 220-mm diameter disc; Brembo caliper with two 32-mm pistons with racing sintered pads. Pump with integrated tank and metal braided hose.
Wheels: Marchesini 7 spokes Forged Magnesium rims with “anti slip” treatment. Front: 3.5”x16.5” Rear: 6.25”x16.5”
Tyres: Radial tubeless Pirelli Diablo SBK. Ant: 120/75 R 420, Post: 190/65 R 420 Weight: 175 kg (in riding condition with empty fuel tank). Weight distribution 52% front, 48% rear
Fuel tank: 17 liters capacity with racing fuel cap
Fairing, seat, rear cowl and engine protections: Carbon fiber fairing, single seat and rear cowl. Carbon-Kevlar engine protection.
Other parts: Footrest Racing Kit, Handlebars Racing Kit, ECU handheld setting device, bike stand and Aprilia Racing bike cover.
Source: Aprilia
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