Aprilia claims a crankshaft figure of 177.5 hp 12,500 rpm, and max torque of 84.8 lb.-ft. The engine’s oversquare design allows the RSV4 to spin to 14,100 rpm-a stratospheric rev limit that was the domain of select 600cc sportbikes and MotoGP racers only a few years ago.
A monobloc crankcase with integrated cylinders is used to make the engine as rigid as possible for the 52.3mm stroke crankshaft, which swings 13:1 compression pistons in 78mm bores. RSV4’s 32mm intake valves are titanium, and its 26mm exhaust valves are steel.
Yet, the V-4 is smaller and more compact than the Mille motor due to its four smaller cylinders, compact heads and a unique cam drive system in which the cam chains only drive the intake cams on each cylinder bank, while a pair of gears in the center of the cylinder heads drive the exhaust cams. Designed and built completely by Piaggio (Adios, Rotax it was nice knowing you), the liquid-cooled, 65°, DOHC, four-valve V-4 features a slightly wider vee angle than the Mille’s 60° V-twin in order to optimize the intake tracts. BMW is clearly taking aim at the Big Four Japanese superbikes, while the RSV4 Factory has been built to be the most exclusive Aprilia superbike, trumping its RSV4R sister with more advanced engine technology, trick Öhlins suspension components, ultralight forged wheels and exotic carbon fiber body pieces.
ITH MUCH FANFAREĮngines & Transmissions-S1000RR 1st RSV4 Factory 2nd Advancing the state of the art is what the S1000RR and the RSV4 Factory are all about, although their respective manufacturers have adopted different marketing strategies for their new technology. When all was said and done, a clear winner emerged. Deviating from our usual testing ritual, we even went so far as to book track time during one of the Fastrack Riders’ (weekends at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, to see just how these made-for-racing motorcycles stacked up on the racetrack as well as on the street. MCN couldn’t wait to get our hands on this pair of European thoroughbreds and put them through their paces. On the other hand, the Aprilia RSV4 Factory, in similar full-race trim, has already proved its mettle with no less than three World Superbike wins in the hands of the veteran Max Biaggi, including a double victory at round two in Portimão, Portugal. The only cognitive dissonance is that on the FIM World Superbike Championship stage, the S1000RR has yet to score a podium finish. Intially anxious media reps who rode the new machine were mostly left in awe by its incredible horsepower and almost magical Race ABS and Dynamic Traction Control systems. Via multiple press introductions in late 2009 and early 2010, BMW introduced its S1000RR superbike at racetracks from Portuagal to the US. Which of Europe’s all-new ride by-wire superbikes rules the track and the street?
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