Aprilia RSV4: countdown to first ride

It’s the night before the big day! Tomorrow I finally get to ride Aprilia‘s brand new RSV4 around Misano circuit in northern Italy.

I still haven’t actually seen one in the flesh yet, but they’ve got Max Biaggi’s World Superbike here at the hotel this evening and it looks incredible, as trick as a MotoGP bike.

In the flesh the red flashes on the paintwork are actually luminous red, which give it that ‘factory’ race look. It’s dripping with carbon and the best racing components money can buy, I’ll be interested to see how close the road bike is to this tomorrow.

They won’t let me sit on Biaggi’s bike to try it for size, but it looks very compact, although it will be set-up specifically for the ex-MotoGP god. I’m sure the road bike’s riding position will be generous…well, I’m hoping so as I’m six foot tall.

We’ll find out the full technical spec of the bike tonight and first thing in the morning I get to try this magnificent V4-engined superbike for the first time around the track.
Check back tomorrow to find out what we think.

Michael Neeves, Senior Road Tester, MCN

For more information on the RSV4, visit MCN’s RSV4 launch centre