News – The SXV 450 and 550 are always doing more! – Second hand APRILIA

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The SXV 450 and 550 are always pulling more !

News - The SXV 450 and 550 are always doing more! - Second hand APRILIA

Invited by Aprilia France to the Pôle Mecanique d’Alès, Site tried its hand at driving a supermotard on the track … A new experience that unfortunately came to nothing: you can’t improvise Van Den Bosh in two and a half laps !

It was at the end of December, on the superb Mechanical Pole of Alès, that the Italian manufacturer invited a handful of journalists to come and play on the 2008 versions of its SXV 4.5 and 5.5..

And you might as well say it right away: despite the stated wishes of the Site tester – me – "take it easy on the 450, just to see", these toys quickly put their pilot at ease … or even throw their ball on the ground !

Unfortunately, no photo of the pretty high side taken from the third lap will be published, for the simple reason that the photographer did not even have time to unsheathe his camera. !

All the conditions for a good test were met: the sun was finally flooding the entire circuit, the wet areas were clearly identifiable and the grip was sufficient to scrape the footrests of the Italians – at least that’s what brilliantly demonstrated our colleague from Supermotard Magazine during his first driving session !

But then, the conditions leading to a sudden launching into orbit were also present: a light motorcycle (122 kg dry and 7.8 liters of tank!), An explosive engine (55 horsepower at 13,000 rpm for the "four and a half" and 65 hp 1000 rpm lower for the "5.5") and above all – above all! – an inexperienced pilot too quickly intoxicated by the ease of handling the Supermot ‘and the fun that this type of mount provides…

During the first lap – that of reconnaissance -, we quickly realize that the SXV is definitely cut for the track: the acceleration is fiery, the braking biting and powerful, the bets on the angle speedy and the saddle extremely uncomfortable. !

Nevertheless, the engine accepts to pick up quite low and the 5-speed gearbox makes it easy to juggle between series of fast curves and successions of much slower turns..

In the second lap – that of heating -, the pace readily accelerates: we dare to type more in the V-twin at 77 ° which asks only that, with its four valves per cylinder in titanium and the intake ducts of 38 mm (40 for the 550 …). Naturally, the cycle part is up to the task !

It still consists of the mixed trellis / aluminum plates perimeter frame (now a distinctive sign of many Aprilia models, read) and the reinforced swingarm and widened compared to that mounted on the RXV enduros..

On the other hand, a novelty for 2008 concerns the front, since the SXV are equipped with a black inverted Sachs 48mm fork, instead of the gray Marzocchi 43mm previously..

We then cling firmly to the beast – and to its "new Madura handlebars", points out in passing Aprilia – because even if the pull of the handle has been lengthened"for a better feeling"on the 2008 versions, the desire to open wide at each exit of a bend is irresistible…

So much so that the rider starting out in the Supermot category, who asks for more and more, may end up asking too much! Perched like an "i" on the SXV, eyes already riveted on the next bend, don’t forget that the bike is still full angle at the exit of the previous bend…

However, whether it is a 550 of 65 hp and 130 kg or a 450 developing "only" 55 hp – but pulling shorter with one tooth less at the pinion – an SXV is just waiting to fly: better it is worth not going over the gas too early and too hard, on pain of punishment: a sprained shoulder, in this case…

More fear than harm for the 450 too briefly borrowed: a part of the brake lever has jumped but it still turns … As for the tank, the front headlight plate and the magnificent rear light / mud flap / pot assembly, all redesigned in 2008, they are fortunately intact.

In order to avoid this kind of incident, novices will be able to activate the new button located on the left part of the handlebars, which smooths the power curve of the twin cylinder via an enrichment of the carburation. Provided of course that they are ready to pay the tidy sum of € 9,499 for the SXV 4.5 and € 9,799 for the 5.5…

On the other hand, for the experts, note that a version "Replica VDB" (for Thierry Van Den Bosch, star of the Supermoto) of SXV 4.5 and 5.5 is also marketed. It differs from the standard versions in particular by its rims and slick tires, the staging of its gearbox and its 8.4-liter carbon fiber tank (see the technical sheet).

Main changes to the SXV 4.5 and 5.5 in 2008

  • Euro 3 standard
  • Colors
  • Redesigned tank
  • New flagship plate
  • New rear light and mud flap
  • Two-tone saddle
  • New mapping: double Soft / Hard curves
  • Sachs fork
  • Fork tubes: TIN anti-friction treatment
  • Starter placed on the air box
  • Throttle grip: longer stroke

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