All Tests – Chills without fever … – Occasions APRILIA

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Chills without the fever…

All Tests - Chills without fever ... - Occasions APRILIA

With its Shiver 750, Aprilia is embarking on a new adventure: leaving the niche of sports motorcycles without erasing its racy image, the Italian offers an innovative and accessible roadster to compete with Japanese 4-cylinders. Test !

Aprilia has a powerful image of sports manufacturer: its RS 2-stroke, RSV and Tuonos "mil-le" with the Rotax V engine at 60 °, and more recently its RXV and SXV, are among the most adulated motorcycles of amateurs. thrills…

On the other hand, its more "quiet" models named Caponord, Pegaso, Falco or Futura know – or have known – a much more modest success, in terms of sales as of charisma. Despite greater commercial potential, these products never enabled Noale’s manufacturer to reach BMW’s sales volumes, let alone those of the four major Japanese manufacturers..

But fell into the hands of the giant Piaggio in 2004 (read), Aprilia announced resounding news at the EICMA show which was held in Milan in November (read)…

"It’s a particularly tough industrial bet: few people outside believed it, but we trusted the staff of Noale.", insists Roberto Colaninno, big boss of the Piaggio group, during the presentation of the Shiver.

And indeed, the launch of this new model is not trivial: with this product, Aprilia invests the most contested sector in Europe, that of medium-displacement roadsters….

"We are very ambitious!"

"Aprilia makes profits: 30,000 units delivered in the last six months, this represents an increase of 33% compared to last year", assures Roberto Colaninno, visibly very satisfied with the takeover of the Italian brand by his group.

Recalling that the medium-displacement roadsters represent 25% of the European market for motorcycles – motorcycles over 125 cc -, the leader is careful not to quantify the market share targeted by the Shiver 750. Just he answers journalists eager for concrete commitments: "we are very ambitious"… !

And how not to be, since this is the first Aprilia product born under the aegis of Piaggio and the first motorcycle designed entirely by Aprilia, all "in a record time of 24 months", specifies Leo Francesco Mercanti, vice-president of Aprilia and Derbi.

Retaining its "expertise"- the firm is 27 times world champion in 125 and 250 cc, it is written on the tanks of the new Shiver! – Aprilia created this roadster to expand its range and thus open up to a greater number of ‘users.

The great gap between sportsmanship imbued with high performance and technological innovation that the firm maintains through its communication on the one hand, and the expectations of "everyday" consumers on the other hand is emerging. delicate. To judge her aptitudes, it was at the foot of the Dolomites massif that Aprilia offered to test her Shiver 750: avanti !

Ma que, the class !

"His sporty, emotional, distinctive style is meant to last", explains Alberto Cappella, designer of the Shiver who estimates the cost of research in design at 15 million euros. Stylist of the superb Guzzi MGS-01, Alberto designed an angular Shiver, but not as much as the Futura whose fairing "futuristic" had aged too quickly…

On this new 750, the casings carefully hide the multitude of on-board electronic components and the gray color – the only color available to the press for this initial contact – blends perfectly with the components of the cycle part and the engine..

The "gold" hue elegantly highlights the frame made up of two distinct parts: the upper part is a tubular steel trellis "Italian style" while the lower part is more "racing" inspiration, naturally in aluminum.

Aluminum is also used for the swingarm to which the Sachs shock absorber is directly attached. Offset to the right of the bike, it allows easier passage of the exhaust line, whose imposing silencer is housed under the saddle.

But other equipment inevitably catches the eye. Extra-thin spoked rims, a tough-looking Showa inverted fork and radial-mount front brakes inherited from the RSVs give the Shiver 750 an unmistakable sporty look. !

The dashboard retains the layout of that of the Tuono: to the right of the tachometer is a digital screen indicating the speed, the mileage (total or daily), the outside temperature, that of the engine, the gear engaged. and other information stored in memory such as the maximum speed reached, the average speed, the instantaneous and average consumption and even a stopwatch.

During our test, however, the speedometer engaged only worked a few times – often better when decelerating – and the on-board computer reported an average consumption of 250 liters per 100 km! To say the least maddening when we know that the capacity of the tank is limited to 15 liters…

The motorcycles in the press presentation being "pre-series Shiver"Aprilia promised that these problems would be resolved on production models, available in dealerships in September. The manufacturer should even take into account journalists’ reviews – both positive and negative – to refine its product. !

The machine‘s estimated dry weight of 189 kg is at the top of the current range for mid-displacement roadsters. In appearance, the new Aprilia takes advantage of its twin to present an hourglass figure, inflated nevertheless by the covering of the tank.

Aesthetically, the Italian engineers lingered on the smallest details. Thus the white tinted indicators are particularly fine and successful, as are the mirrors which take the shape of the optics! Bellissima…

The high point of this bike is repeated en masse in the presentation brochures and other commercial brochures: it is the carefully sculpted double stainless steel exhaust outlet which allows to identify at a glance this italian news.

At the rear of the Shiver 750 is also a 180 mm rear tire … But wouldn’t a 160 like the ER-6 have been enough? And what about the radial mount brake calipers … It casts a question of look but on the road, is it really necessary ?

Comfortable and easy

Climbing on the Shiver, we discover an Aprilia more welcoming than it seems: its wide and high handlebars go well with its low placed footrests and its generously shaped saddle. Counterpart of this saddle offering a large seating surface: its width makes access to the ground more delicate than its 810 mm height listed on the technical sheet suggested for bikers with short legs…

The front clutch and brake levers are both equipped with gauge wheels. You can also adjust the height of the brake pedal and the selector. Planned with lugs, the footrests of the test models were devoid of them: just to take more angle serenely ?

Under the left foot is logically the side stand, but no need to look for the central because the Italian does not do better than its competitors on this subject. Sitting on the Shiver, it is easier to deploy the lateral using the sole of the foot rather than with the heel: a habit to take !

The first turns of the wheel at the controls of the machine are easy, as desired by the manufacturer. The gearbox and hydraulic clutch save the rider’s effort properly and the large handlebars allow the motorcycle to be moved efficiently at low speeds.

However, we note a limited ability to maneuver and turn around: the turning radius is a bit disappointing for a roadster that will often – or even mostly – drive in town.

The suspensions absorb all types of obstacles without flinching and effectively spare the rider’s vertebrae. The particularly biting front brake "loses" its aggressiveness with the plunging of the fork: the front axle is lowered and the brake grip is not as dry as on the hypersportive models. This will reassure beginners … but may disturb more experienced pilots: we will come back to it as soon as the pace picks up !

On the engine side, its flexibility allows pickups at low speed without jerking and its linearity at mid-speed offers quite manageable times. "This ease is mainly due to the Ride by Wire system", congratulate the engineers of Aprilia !

Ride by Wire: a first !

This system – "present in the automotive industry since 1999", underlines the manufacturer – offers to engineers – then to the driver! – a better control of the torque and the engine brake. In addition, it more easily meets the antipollution and noise standards, a point studied in collaboration with Alfa Romeo for the creation of the exhaust.

The "Ride by Wire" must above all make it possible to "ride a motorcycle whose engine delivers what you want rather than all it can offer…", explains the manufacturer. However in the facts, this assumption is verified only to a certain point…

In fact, driven at high speed, the Shiver responds perfectly to the inclinations of the right wrist. The 95 horsepower advertised at 9,000 rpm and the 81 Nm reached 2,000 rpm lower are not overly impressive, but speed limits are quickly reached..

On the other hand, roughed up in the tiny Italian pins, the new Aprilia shows a less docile character. Admittedly, the limit of the grip of small mountainous roads is quickly reached. But short glides of the rear wheel allowed us to highlight that even when opening the throttle in a scrupulously identical way – big! -, engine reactions could be slightly different.

To activate the opening of the intake throttles – one per cylinder -, the Shiver’s computer takes into account the engine speed, the gear engaged, the speed of the motorcycle, the temperature and the air pressure as well as the degree of opening of the throttle grip: a cable still comes out of the right stalk, but it joins a potentiometer !

However, the interpretation made by the computer of these different data – partly already carried out by the pilot himself … -, leads to clear increases in revs but not always perfectly identical. Even if the observation of these slight fluctuations remains subjective, it still marks a small frustration concerning this major innovation: because "the Shiver 750 is the first motorcycle equipped with Ride by Wire"recalls Aprilia.

Fortunately, the interpretation of the electronic box may be improved over time. And the first buyers should not be harmed, since with an update of the injection program, the reactions – even the character! – the engine could be improved. And why not directly via the internet ?!

In the faster portion of our road test, the linearity of the twin is confirmed: the engine slowly resumes at 3000 rpm to gradually raise the tone to 9500 rpm. Depending on the mood, it is also possible to program the intervention of the switch in the red zone yourself, via the menu on the dashboard. !

It is past 5500 rpm that the Shiver 750 offers interesting acceleration and pick-up, but it is also from 6000 revolutions that slight vibrations appear at the level of the footrests and the saddle..

Nothing annoying however since at these speeds, the pilot concentrates more on the road which scrolls at high speed than on his little comfort! On the motorway, the 130 km / h are hooked to a little more than 5,000 rpm, which spares the pilot of any inconvenience.

Born to roll up

Finally, what we could blame this new Aprilia for is its look / performance difference. Because with those sharp lines and its sporty look – thanks to the front brakes! -, the Shiver 750 deceives its world and must be careful that it is in the positive sense of the term !

So fans of the Tuono will gladly go their way because during heavy braking and in rapid sequences, the front end is not as lively and reassuring as that of the big sister. On this point, the hydraulics of the fork in particular would benefit from being braked to limit oscillations in the strongly negotiated curves..

But by creating this Shiver, Aprilia was targeting the widest possible audience and also had to satisfy heavy riders who have to walk on a poorly maintained and bumpy secondary network, as well as city dwellers traveling on distorted roads….

For lovers of harshness, the Shiver 750 will still allow you to defend yourself honestly, because the bike reacts healthily to all types of constraints. And by leading it in a casting way, it can be very effective !

Well wedged in the back of the saddle, the pilot of the Shiver can ride hard and "shiver" without suffering a surge of fever when opening the throttle or taking the brakes … What some will regret of course, but the new Aprilia was born to roll, not to panic the clock.

To be continued…

For unconditional athletes, it is good to point out that the Shiver will be available in a version "Factory": the occasion perhaps for Aprilia to radicalize the driving position and especially to offer more sporty suspensions to the 750. Didn’t Alberto Cappella equip the Shiver with an imposing Ohlins fork in his sketches ?

We note on this same drawing the look of the front optics then very close to that of the new Hornet: "these drawings date from 2005, it is signed !", defends the Italian designer !

In addition to this finish which has become commonplace at Aprilia – even the little Pegaso now has its Factory version! -, the Shiver 750 should also give birth to a road – fork crown, semi-fairing and shoe with ABS location already planned! – as well as a trail / supermotard which we do not yet know if the mind will lean more towards the Kawasaki Versys or the KTM SM690…

"Each declination could correspond to a different engine mapping", also provides one of Aprilia engineers interviewed by Site. This would strengthen or further smooth the character of the twin seven and a half !

The Shiver 750 is therefore only the first phase of the expansion of the Aprilia range. The engine was designed to be able to increase in displacement and the arrival of a 1200 cc is already planned in the medium term. By then, the Mana – the first automatic motorcycle (read) – will have been launched !

At the same time, Aprilia also wants to enter the Mondial SBK with its V4 1000 cc at 65 degrees. Regarding the Grands Prix, the 125 and 250 – Lorenzo, Luthi, De Angelis and Barbera were present at the press conference – continue to achieve excellent results … And when it comes to MotoGP, "Aprilia is restructured and Piaggio has the financial means", note the directors of the two Italian firms…

We can be sure that the thunderous start to the 2007 season made by Ducati – a much smaller manufacturer than Piaggio – does not leave Aprilia indifferent … "We are starting to work on prototypes … they could arrive in the next three years", finally unveils the Lion of Noale! But in the meantime, the battle that Aprilia will have to fight will take place in concessions…

To distribute the Shiver 750, mechanics must be trained in the specifics of the "Ride by Wire" system, otherwise dealers will not be able to sell this model: "it is the same line of conduct as for the MP3", specifies the training manager at Piaggio-Aprilia France, also in charge of after-sales service …"At first, the after-sales service was hampered by the logistical grouping of Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia and Guzzi, but it is now functional and 95% of Aprilia parts are available.", he assures us.

The Shiver will be available in France from September in black color "Competition"and money"Fever". White models"Cult", blue"Sewing"and orange"Apricot"will land a little later and the Italians are working on an ABS version for spring 2008.

Question price, the Italian is above the Japanese but offers a different look and injection system: "€ 8,000 in Italy and between € 8,000 and € 8,200 in Europe depending on taxes", announces the manufacturer. The quest for market share of the Aprilia Shiver 750 against the Kawasaki Z750, Yamaha FZ6, Suzuki GSR, Ducati S2R and Triumph Street Triple promises to be particularly hotly contested … An affair to be followed each month in Site market reports !

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