Sporty – RSV4 Factory APRC SE test: the electro-Superb Bike! – His limits ? Yours !

RSV4 Factory APRC SE test: the electro-Superbe Bike !

Sporty - RSV4 Factory APRC SE test: the electro-Superb Bike! - His limits ? Yours !

Getting to know the exceptional, going beyond its limits: these are the feelings felt when testing the sculptural and sophisticated Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE (Aprilia Performance Ride Control Special Edition) on the MotoGP circuit in Jerez (Spain)…

His limits ? Yours !

Circuit included in the Moto GP calendar – our readers have probably not forgotten Valentino Rossi’s memorable block-pass on Sete Gibernau in 2005 (read) – Jerez is a route with quick breaks and two long straights leading to tight straight lines: an ideal playing field to highlight the qualities of the RSV4 APRC SE !

Confidence settles quickly, the degree of Traction Control selected quickly drops to 5, then to 3, while the anti-wheeling goes from 3 to 1. With these settings, the steering becomes more physical because the intervention of aids is not really the same and the freedoms left to the pilot are much more important !

Before the second straight line at the bottom of the circuit, for example, an uphill right turn approached in third highlights this subtlety: shortly after the rope at the top of the vertical drop, the Aprlia RSV4 APRC SE immediately goes drifting when you spin. throttle, while the front wheel plays the air girls just before soliciting a shifter as fast as it is efficient to engage the fourth !

However, throughout this "critical" passage, the orange light indicating the entry into action of the traction control and / or anti-wheeling flashes more or less uninterrupted according to the degree of intervention selected. Once ATC below the 5 mark, the electronics no longer perform this "preventive" function mentioned above and allow many more movements to filter through before intervening when the rear begins to wiggle with it. bonhomie under the rough thrusts of the V4.

The more daring can then choose to press the "-" button in the straight line to continue to challenge their own management of grip, or even completely cut ATC – at a standstill this time – by pressing the same for three seconds. command once on the first notch.

On the other hand, once arrived at its limits – or at that of its tires -, the reverse operation makes it possible to continue driving hard by relying on the APRC to catch up with excess optimism or a sudden slack. Magical !

Finally, the last extra toy included in the APRC pack: Aprilia Launch Control, departure assistance managed by the ECU. Used in Grand Prix and Superbike for several years, this unique device on a production motorcycle is activated by pressing simultaneously for three seconds the "+" and "-" commands..

Adjustable in three positions, this function has its own management of skating and wheeling. It is deactivated automatically once the third gear is engaged or the bar of 160 km / h crossed. The principle is simple: full throttle when stationary (yes, yes!), The pilot just takes care of the clutch while the ALC allows more or less take-off of the front wheel.

Too intrusive in mode 3 – acceleration is badly curtailed over the first 15 meters -, Aprilia Launch Control gets interesting on the second notch – the front wheel licks the ground, even with the throttle fully screwed in first! – and ensures the holeshot on its first graduation.

Completely useless for road use, the ALC is obviously only intended for the track … like all the rest of the equipment of this incredibly sophisticated single-seater! To fart like a "païlote" in front of your friends, MNC advises you to talk about "settings" that you "switch" after the "warm-up" or during the Superpole !

After all, Aprilia fully playing the competition card (hence the regrettable absence of ABS), as much to assume his new pilot status … not "factory" like Max, but who will toil " factory "to save the 21,999 euros requested by this breathtaking RSV4 Factory APRC SE !

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *