‘Obscure Spe.Ed’: Aprilia unveils lightweight version of the RSV4 at EICMA

220 PS, 201 kilograms ready to ride: these are the figures Aprilia quotes for the RSV4 ‘Obscure Spe.Ed’. In this case, ‘Spe.Ed’ not only stands for the English word for speed, but is also an abbreviation for ‘Special Edition’, as Aprilia’s new flagship superbike is limited to 500 units.

It is based on the Aprilia RSV4 Factory, and at its heart lies the familiar 65-degree V4 from the standard RSV4. In this special edition, it delivers 220 PS – a figure approved for road use; fitted with the optional ART exhaust system, the spec sheet lists an additional 3 PS and a kerb weight of 196 kilograms. The V4 delivers 127 Newton metres of torque to the chain; with the ART system, this increases by 4 Newton metres. However, the ART system is not road-legal and is therefore primarily intended for use on closed-circuit racetracks. The standard special edition, however, is fully road-legal.

Lightweight construction was right at the top of the specifications for the engineers in Noale, and the Italians are keen to emphasise the close ties to their in-house racing department. This is evident, for example, in the additional wings known as ‘Leg Wings’, which are becoming increasingly common in MotoGP and were originally developed by Aprilia. This is said to provide 20 per cent more downforce on the rear wheel of the ‘Obscure Spe.Ed’; Aprilia refers to it as an ‘aerodynamic package derived from MotoGP’. The wings have to be retrofitted to make room for the pillion seat. Whether anyone will actually have fitted a pillion seat to a motorbike of this design is open to question anyway. The additional wings are made from carbon fibre, as are the mudguards, side panels, heel guards and air intakes for the front brake.

The BST rims are also made from this lightweight material and are said to save 2 kilograms compared to the Aprilia forged rims – the lion’s share of the weight savings, which are expected to total 3 kilograms compared to the RSV4 Factory. Traction is ensured by Öhlins TTX rear shock absorbers and NIX forks, which are, of course, fully adjustable. In line with the bike’s intended use on the racetrack, Aprilia has opted against semi-active suspension elements. The electronics package is also designed with this in mind; it includes, amongst other features, launch control, a pit lane limiter, adjustable rear-wheel drift control and engine braking control. A GPS module for lap time monitoring and app connectivity for further data analysis are also included. The price has not yet been announced.

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