Aprilia RSV4 RF Archives

Turn it Up! A Yamaha YZF-R1 and Aprilia RSV4 RF in the Twisties

Like beauty is subjective, so is everyone’s preference for motorcycle exhaust note.
V-Four engines are among the best – if not the best – sounding.
Listen to this Yamaha YZF-R1 and Aprilia RSV4 RF.

Just as beauty is subjective, so is everyone’s preference for motorcycle exhaust note. To bikers, the exhaust note is another aspect which stirs the sould. However, V-Fours sound the best in our books as demonstrated by this Yamaha YZF-R1 and Aprilia RSV4 RF.

Yes, yes, the Yamaha R1 isn’t a V-Four but an inline-Four, instead. But I’m sure you already know that the “crossplane” crankshaft is arranged in such a way that the engine fires like a V-Four, hence sounding like one. Or like some say, sounds like Valentino Rossi’s YZR-M1 MotoGP bike.

The crossplane crankshaft spaces the crankpins at 90^ofrom each other. Therefore, the R1’s firing order mimics the firing order of a V-Four with a 180^ocrank, which gives it a 270^o– 180^o– 90^o– 180^oignition timing. The irregular firing order is what gives the bike its distinctive exhaust note compared to traditional inline-Fours.

The Aprilia RSV4, on the other hand, uses a 65^oV-Four with a 180^ocrankshaft. As such, the firing order is a regular 180^o– 115^o– 180^o– 245^o, giving it another distinctive and gloriously LOUD(!) exhaust note.

By the way, the numbers with degrees denote the crankshaft rotation angle.

NOTE: Please ride responsibly on public roads.

Video credit: SuperBike Racer

Updated 2016 Aprilia RSV4 with Factory Works special

The famed Aprilia brand may not have any substantially new models to debut at EICMA this year, but this did little from it giving its RSV4 superbike a well-needed update.

For 2016, the Aprilia RSV4 will feature several minor but essential enhancements over the model it replaces.

Firstly, the 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF gains with new ‘Superpole’ graphics to enhance its looks further. Crucially though, the 2016 model now gains with a revised rear suspension setup, which Aprilia claims to be ‘more effective’.

Giving it a better tech edge, Aprilia have also updated the 2016 model’s electronics where it will include its V4-MP system. The new suite is in fact a full-blown telemetry system with smartphone connectivity, with the level of detail available for change covering all the way down to setting individual parameters for each corner or section of a track.

However, should the road-going RSV4 line not tickle your fancy for not being track-focused, then enter the newly introduced Aprilia Factory Works program. Essentially, the program sees Aprilia offering to produce RSV4 R-FWs that are optimized for track performance, or in accordance with the superbike and superstock regulations of race series across the world.

It is open to full time racers and teams, as well as members of the public alike who have race team-like budgets. Factory Works bikes gain with special chassis preparations, electronics packages and engine tunes to suit whatever class they’re competing in, right up to a top-level of tune exceeding 230hp.