APRC Articles
Whither Aprilia?
Aprilia turned up at Intermot with little beyond this ’13 model year RSV4. Looks the same, right? It mostly is, but it adds three-mode, switchable ABS and a couple of other useful features that’ll keep it sharp. That ABS was co-developed with Bosch and includes the fitment of Brembo’s new top-drawer M430 calipers and master cylinder. It functions in three, rider switchable modes — Track,...
02 October 2012
Pictured: the future
In the future, our race suits will be capable of predicting crashes, inflating prior to impact in order to absorb forces exceeding even 23g without injury. In the future, those suits will sync to mobile devices more powerful than the computers used to put men on the moon. In the future, all those components will add only 450 grams of weight and require no additional space in the suit. In the futur...
13 June 2012
Why you want a Triumph Bonneville, even if you don’t know it yet
Since 2001, the Triumph Bonneville has always just sort of been there as a good-looking, if unexciting retro bike. Reliable, shiny and affordable, but not the kind of thing you’d lay awake at night dreaming about. For 2010 and 2011, that’s just changed, totally. Triumph won’t tell you that the humble Bonnie is suddenly one of the most most desirable motorcycles on the market. But, don’t wo...
09 December 2011
How APRC works on the road
You've seen the fancy videos, the technical breakdown info-graphics and read the first person accounts about how completely awesome APRC is. But if you're not a racer, why should you care? Technology from racing has been improving the street riding experience for decades. In the 1960s racing technology brought us powerful four cylinder engines with a ton of reliable smooth power. In the 70s we got...
26 October 2011
News
The age of universal traction control is upon us
First used on a production car in 1971 (Buick full-sizes) and on a production motorcycle in 1992 (Honda ST1100), Traction Control has long since evolved from a dorky safety aid to a sophisticated, desirable performance enhancer. TC makes it possible for bikes and cars to be more powerful than ever before, while remaining exploitable to mere mortals. Long standard on virtually every automobile sold...
19 October 2011
News
An insider’s look at Aprilia Performance Ride Control
Once we’d started putting together a series of videos on the new Aprilia RSV4 APRC, it became quickly apparent that we needed to develop an intimate understanding of how Aprilia Performance Ride Control worked if we were going to stand a chance of doing it justice. Aprilia may have developed the most sophisticated set of performance enhancing electronics ever in-house, but, in typical Italian fa...
19 July 2011
News
A two-wheeled tribute to the Space Shuttle
As motorcyclists, you and I probably have a little more in common with astronauts than the average person. We know what it is to take risks, we know what it means to delicately control a machine on the razor edge of performance and we spend a lifetime perfecting the skills required to do so. Constantly pursuing technical innovation in the name of speed, motorcycle manufacturers have something in c...
08 July 2011
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22 June 2011
News
Aprilia Performance Ride Control explained
For the first time in two-wheeled history, motorcycle performance is no longer being measured merely in power and weight, but also in how closely a rider can come to exploiting the bike’s full potential. New technology is enabling riders to approach or even exceed the limits of motorcycles that are faster than ever before. That’s a reflection of what’s happening on race tracks. Max Biaggi di...
15 June 2011
How the Aprilia Tuono V4R APRC spins
Chris Harris has been spilling some beans on Ferrari’s treatment of the cars it supplies – or refuses – to journalists for reviews, and it makes my mild reservations about the Aprilia Tuono V4R we were given to ride around the Valencia MotoGP circuit look desperately over-sensitive. Test cars with blatantly tuned engines, different set-up cars supplied depending on the tests being done, Ferr...
14 April 2011
News
Video: Aprilia quick shift and self tire calibration explained
In addition to launch control, wheelie control and traction control, Aprilia Performance Ride Control also brings quick shift and the ability to calibrate itself to different tires. It’s the most sophisticated set of performance-enhancing electronics ever fitted to a production motorcycle and its explained here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg_A-OKmvMc&feature=feedu This new video walks you...
03 March 2011
2011 Aprilia RSV4 R APRC: official images and info
Last week we brought you leaked news that the 2011 Aprilia RSV4 R would be gaining APRC and a few other tweaks. Now we have official info and images. In addition to traction control, launch control, wheelie control and a quickshifter, it gains lighter wheels, new suspension, a 2kg lighter exhaust canister, shorter gearing and even improved fuel mileage. At only a $1,000 premium, what’s not to li...
25 February 2011
News
Video: Aprilia launch and wheelie control explained
Aprilia Performance Ride Control, as fitted to the 2011 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE and Aprilia Tuono V4R, is the most sophisticated set of performance-enhancing electronics ever included on a production motorcycle. Last month, Aprilia explained the overall concept and traction control, now they detail launch control and wheelie control. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARmLhdbgz5I http://www.yo...
15 February 2011
News
Video: Aprilia Performance Ride Control Explained
It came as something of a shock when, in October, the tiny superbike manufacturer from Noale unveiled the most sophisticated set of performance-enhancing electronics ever fitted to a road-going motorcycle. Aprilia Performance Ride Control incorporates an incredibly advanced traction control system as well as wheelie control, quick shift and even launch control. Here, Aprilia walks you through the ...
18 January 2011
Details: Aprilia Tuono V4R
Out of all the bikes at the EICMA show — including the Diavel, F3 and Triumph Tiger 800 — it’s the Aprilia Tuono V4R that really needs a closer look. Not because it’s a complicated bike — a “naked” version of the RSV4 with a little less power and the addition of APRC — but because we think hiding behind those horrendously surprised headlights there’s actually a good looking motor...
09 November 2010
2011 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE: can electronics = performance?
The 2011 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE isn’t the first superbike with traction control, but it is the first production superbike with the full complement of SBK electronics: traction control, sure, but also wheelie control, launch control and quickshift. Kevin Ash went to Jerez to find out if a mouthful of acronyms can really translate to improved performance and to see if a tiny European motorcy...
31 October 2010
A carbon-bodied RSV4 Factory and Aprilia Performance Ride Control explained
Take an impressive list of performance-boosting electronic widgets: adjustable traction control capable of self-adjusting to different types of tires, launch control, a quick shifter with bar-mounted buttons and wheelie control, then add all-carbon bodywork and a full Akropovic race system to that package. What do you have? Surely the most technologically advanced and desirable superbike currently...
22 October 2010