APRILIA RSV4 RR (2018 - on) Review

The RSV4 has to be the most comfortable sports bike that I've ridden. Even in my 50's I can spend all day in the saddle!!

Best motorcycle engine platform ever? Absolutely!!

First RSV4 was a new 2013 Factory, 15k trouble free miles before changing it for my '19 RR.

The RSV4 has been great value from day 1, but since the introduction of the 201hp RR they are really a no brained! Do my own servicing (including the dealer expensive valve clearance adjust) so it's just the cost of materials/parts.

From 2017 the RSV4 has everything you'll ever need. If you change the exhaust you will need to install the race map, diy job these days though!

Brakes are the best around and the suspension feels excellent on the road. Full adjustment means you can soften off this racer a little for road use.

The soundtrack is phenomenal and the linear power delivery makes it deceptively fast whilst being easy to control. Just make sure to hang on!

Lavished with Brembo's, Bosch ECU's and other top spec components. 99% of us won't notice the Ohlins and lighter wheels so why realistically pay so much more to have them? No issues with the bike reliability wise. They have a reputation for poor reliability that is just not the case anymore, I'd say it's as good as any other superbike.

It's a superbike so you don't buy one expecting miracles. That said, it has a 6000 mile/1 year service interval and the valves need doing every 12000 miles. On one of these that will take a while to rack up. I regularly achieve low 40's MPG wise and about 150miles to a tank if not opening the taps too hard!

Cruise control, traction and wheelie control, quickshifter etc. The only thing it's missing is electronically adjustable suspension.

for a superbike its pretty comfy. No wind problems. Can sit at 110mph no problem. Bumps are ironed out with a plush effect. Brakes are some of the best iv had.

Main reason why I bought the bike. The sound the power delivery the soul the character.

Iv had a 2018 tuono factory and covered 6k on it in the Picos and Barcelona and didn't skip a beat. Hoping this is the same. Paint finish is superb. No signs of rust. Chain seemed cheap so I replaced with a gold one.

I paid just over 12k for it and it was 9 months old with 800 miles on the clock. Brand new is 15k with the akra and race map. Got a bargain. My 12k would've got me an older more miles panigale 1200 but I was bored of vtwins after having a few ktms and I missed my v4 from my tuono. 12k also didn't excite me in the Japanese market either. When u think about all that bling u get, the suspension, the brakes, the electronics etc. Try match that with another bike for the same money, age and miles. The range im getting to a full tank is reasonable. About 140 miles till empty. 110 for reserve. Remember its 200bhp and still better mpg than an mt10.

Everything you need and expect from a modern superbike. Only thing is missing is a fuel gauge. But still in 2020 there's brand new bikes out there that are deprived of this. Odd. But its forgivable as you just man up and use the trip computer to work it out.