APRILIA SHIVER 750 (2007 - 2009) Review

At a glance

Owners' reliability rating: 3.2 out of 5 (3.2/5)
Annual servicing cost: £300
Power: 95 bhp
Seat height: Medium (31.9 in / 810 mm)
Weight: Medium (417 lbs / 189 kg)

Prices

New N/A
Used £2,800

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The Aprilia Shiver is the first Aprilia to be created from a clean sheet of paper since cash-rich Piaggio took to the helm, and on the basis of our test it’s a good-un. The Aprilia Shiver is one of a new breed of Aprilia motorcycles that’s going to plug the huge gap in their range between the RS125 and RSV1000R (aside from the Pegaso trailie), and best of all it’ll be less than six grand when it hits showrooms at the end of June. The Aprilia Shiver has been designed to take on the big hitters of the middleweight motorcycle world, like the Honda Hornet and Ducati Monster S2R.

 

Watch the Aprilia Shiver take on Suzuki's SV650, the BMW F800S and the Triumph Street Triple

 

Ride quality & brakes

Next up: Engine
4 out of 5 (4/5)

A middleweight needs to be comfortable enough for everyday commuting and decent handling for weekends out playing, and the Aprilia Shiver delivers on both counts. The riding position is spacious and natural and the seat comfy and of course, being built by a manufacturer used to winning races the Aprilia Shiver goes around corners pretty well too.

Engine

Next up: Reliability
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The Aprilia Shiver’s all-new fuel-injected 749.9cc V-twin motor is impeccably smooth all the way through the rev-range, is punchy at low revs and has delivers a fair kick when you work it. The Aprilia Shiver’s real party piece is its fly-by-wire throttle, just like Rossi’s or Bayliss’s motorcycles. A black box decides how far to open the throttle butterflies when you get on the gas, which gives the Shiver greater performance and fewer emissions than a conventional fuel injection system. 

Reliability & build quality

Next up: Value
4 out of 5 (4/5)

Aprilia’s build quality easily rivals the best from Japan nowadays and our review of the Aprilia Shiver is evidence of that, with its nicely made tubular steel/cast aluminium mix frame, cast aluminium braced swingarm and luscious paintwork. Engine-wise Aprilias are very strong too; the only past Aprilia hiccup has been problems getting hold of spares, which the factory are working hard to rectify.

Value vs rivals

Next up: Equipment
4 out of 5 (4/5)

An Aprilia for less than six grand is big news, especially as the Italian firm is usually synonymous with producing high end, top quality performance products like the Mille superbike. The Aprilia Shiver is a genuine, fresh, high performing alternative to the Honda Hornets of the world. Find an Aprilia Shiver for sale.

Equipment

4 out of 5 (4/5)

Aside from the fly-by-wire throttle system the stylish Aprilia Shiver comes with decent cycle parts like super-powerful radial Brembo brakes, quality front and rear suspension, and an LCD multi-functional display. Compare and buy parts for the Aprilia Shiver in the MCN Shop.

Specs

Engine size 749cc
Engine type 8-valve V-twin, 6 gears
Frame type Tubular steel trellis/cast aluminium
Fuel capacity 15 litres
Seat height 810mm
Bike weight 189kg
Front suspension None
Rear suspension Preload, rebound
Front brake 2 x 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers
Rear brake 245mm disc, single piston caliper
Front tyre size 120/70 x 17
Rear tyre size 180/55 x 17

Mpg, costs & insurance

Average fuel consumption 40 mpg
Annual road tax £117
Annual service cost £300
New price -
Used price £2,800
Insurance group 15 of 17
How much to insure?
Warranty term Two year unlimited mileage

Top speed & performance

Max power 95 bhp
Max torque 60 ft-lb
Top speed 130 mph
1/4 mile acceleration 11.06 secs
Tank range 150 miles

Model history & versions

Model history

2007 – Aprilia Shiver introduced.

Other versions

Aprilia Shiver GT - The grand touring version of the Shiver gets a useful half-fairing with cubby holes for you phone, earplugs etc and a 12v cigarette lighter socket to power your gadgets.

Owners' reviews for the APRILIA SHIVER 750 (2007 - 2009)

13 owners have reviewed their APRILIA SHIVER 750 (2007 - 2009) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your APRILIA SHIVER 750 (2007 - 2009)

Summary of owners' reviews

Overall rating: 3.8 out of 5 (3.8/5)
Ride quality & brakes: 4.4 out of 5 (4.4/5)
Engine: 4.1 out of 5 (4.1/5)
Reliability & build quality: 3.2 out of 5 (3.2/5)
Value vs rivals: 3.9 out of 5 (3.9/5)
Equipment: 3.9 out of 5 (3.9/5)
Annual servicing cost: £300
4 out of 5 klodi_hidri@hotmail.com
21 December 2023 by klodi

Version: SL

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £300

Wire by ride

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5

The engine works perfectly at revs from 4500 to 10.000 Under 4500 rev is not so smoothy but is very reliable.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 3 out of 5

getting spares are very expensive for example a fuel pomp is about 500 euros/dollars, or a lambda O2 sensor is 130 euros/dollars.

Equipment 5 out of 5

The wire by ride, frame, and engine brake are my ever favourite features on this bike.

Buying experience: I buy from a dealer at price of 2600 euro

4 out of 5 So much better than I expected
22 August 2015 by lcjohnny

Year: 2009

Lively sporty v twin with good grunt, yet smooth enough for distance work.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Good enough to be great fun at any speed but really they could do an 'R' version with Ohlins. That would be impressive

Engine 5 out of 5

Brilliant fun between 2,500 and 8,500 Smooth and punchy at the bottom then rev crazy as it rises Fun when you are flat out and still fun when you have to be more sensible

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Just keeps on going. Quality of build is better than Suzuki or Triumph but not up to KTM and Honda. Controls are light and accurate.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

50 to the gallon when thrashed and 12,000 mile main services. It is so much fun per £

Equipment 4 out of 5

Saddle is brilliant firm yet comfortable with a nice step holding you tight as you cane it :)

Buying experience: From a dealer, Speedo had been changed so 5000 older than they knew. Sold as 2012 but it was a late registered 09! Convenient purchase but £800 more than it was worth.

4 out of 5 To Shiver
14 April 2012 by gunslinger360

If you are having trouble with the fueling put it in T mode it makes it ooh so smooth and it seems to do more mpg but for those who want instant go stick to S mode. I have experienced a few bikes and feel the Shiver is a great all rounder and I love that V twin buzz it's a bike with real style... It's good for 130mph (on track of course).

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 3 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
4 out of 5 Brillliant
15 December 2011 by Callumshiver750

I couldt help but notice most of the people who ride this bike claim to only get 80-90mph out of it ? I have the 2007 shiver, I have it modified with gold wheels, custom seat(lowered as im short) iv lowered the front works by a quarter inch and i have a carbon fibre rear hugger. Anyways to the point at hand, due to my age i had to have it restricted to 33bhp for 2 years. I have still managed to get 110mph out of it at a pus, It will easily do 100mph and will sit comofrtably at 70-90mph on the bendy's. Generally im so happy i got this bike, my only issue was my started motor died due to a problem with the switch gear to which aprilia refused 2 replace it even tho its a known problem with the early shivers. So i had to fork out the money.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 2 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 3 out of 5
2 out of 5 Not great
19 May 2011 by seabeeahh600

Adding to my review below, iVe been riding the bike for a few weeks now...The good: handling is spot on, very nice ride even for my heavy frame! The acceleration when riding fast is superb, low down grunt and the noise from the twin pipes is gorgeous..u get burble on the over run, even with standard cans... The bad: this is was ruined it for me... The fly by wire throttle seems to be sensitive and I found it a pain to ride in traffic..this type of bike should be ideal for commuting, but, the bike was lurching when kept on a 1/4 open throttle and from 1k to 5k of revs...slow riding becomes uncomfortable and hard word, as the bike lurches back and forth and this happens as u filter making the experience very worrying and unpredictable. The dealer had the bike back twice and was advised that's just how they are... Not impressed... Can keep your fly by wire! This small percentage of the problem ruins what could of been a peach of a bike

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 2 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 2 out of 5
Value vs rivals 1 out of 5
Equipment 2 out of 5
4 out of 5 Early days?
29 April 2011 by seabeeahh600

Purchased an 08 model with around 1k miles on it. Previous bike was a gsxr1000 but wanted something more practical! First impressions. Comfortable I'm 6ft and it's good even after 100 miles non stop..less weight on my wrists! Riding it has helped me to enjoy ridiculous again, I realise the gixxer was too much power, whereas the shiver delivers the power low down where u need it... Seems to be a bit hard to ride between 3 and 4k of revs..very jerky when riding at just 1/4 throttle at these revs, going back to the shop next week to see if it's prob with the bike or how I'm riding it!! Only thing that's spolit the ride so far!!

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 3 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
3 out of 5 Top Speed???
18 April 2010 by UrbanGypsy27

Shiver was sold to me as having top speed of 130mph. In real world, at full throttle on open road I only got a little over 80mph out of mine! I only weigh 12 stone so thats not the reason! Great around town, nimble, great 0-50mph! Did anyone else have the same issue or did I just get a bad bike???

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 2 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 1 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
5 out of 5 Brilliant
16 July 2009 by jimmy66

2009 ABS model 1000 miles so far and loved eveyone

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
3 out of 5 Nice, but
04 May 2009 by Backache

very unreliable. In the first week from brand new Feb 2008 I noticed false neutrals and glitchy fuelling. Then the red warning light appeared and 'service' word appeared so it went back to the dealers. They improved the fuelling and fixed the fault but wouldn't touch the gearbox. Then it broke down again, not going above 3000 revs. It was recovered and the electrical fault fixed. Then two months later this recurred and it was recovered and fixed again. Two months or so later it had problems starting then stalled and wouldn't restart. I bump-started it and got it home to be recovered again. The starter button had stuck and burnt out the motor. Then the front right disc started binding, although this freed itself. Now the pillion footrest vibrates down to horizantal when the engine is running, the speedo occassionally steams up, and I am still getting false neutrals. Yesterday coming back from Paignton I got the same fault damifogg mentions below so it is going back to the dealers tomorrow. If this is the 'Italian Honda' I wish I had bought a real one. In fact I wish I had kept my Fazer, 3 years, 22000 miles and 100% reliable.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 1 out of 5
Value vs rivals 3 out of 5
Equipment 3 out of 5
2 out of 5 Amazing except...
31 March 2009 by damifogg

My first bike and it has been absolutely fantastic... when it's worked. I may have just been unlucky, but I've had several issues with the electrics (the digital speedo told me I was doing 140mph at a set of lights and 0mph on the motorway), and over the weekend after only 3000 miles the starter motor has managed to fall off and bugger the bike. The local dealer has been absolutely useless, a year later I'm still waiting for the free bike luggage that was meant to come with the bike, and repairs have taken a long time with 50cc scooters as replacements while it's off the road. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this bike and think it looks amazing and handles fantastically, but I now have no confidence in the bike and will be getting shut of it as soon as I can.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 1 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 3 out of 5
5 out of 5 Great naked
14 November 2008 by aussie-rhino

My first big bike and what a fantastic machine. powerful enough to build confidence, fun through the twisties, love it. into sport mode and it wants to take off. far more fun than the hornet and 696

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
5 out of 5 Got the shiver
10 June 2008 by wjlonien

Just had one yesterday for a short test ride on small and meandering roads, and it was brilliant. More on my personal page at http://wolfgang.lonien.de/?p=663 cheers, wjl

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
5 out of 5 Shiver fun
20 April 2008 by atatter

Ive had the bike for a few weeks now and with the first service comes a new fuel map giving you 3 settings rain, touring and sport. Forget the other 2 the sport setting will have your arms out of their sockets. All the reviews to date will have been in run-in without the new fuel mapping and believe me this is a huge difference that if measured against the impressive Street Triple will probably match it for speed and torque. Major complaints are trivial and I gather are being rectified such as lousy pillion grips and some glitches with the display and fly by wire throttle - I have had very little problem so far. The bike is great for city or long runs and handles beautifully.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
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