2018 EICMA: Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory

With the 1103cc Ducati Panigale V4 S firmly in its crosshairs, Aprilia used the EICMA Motorcycle Expo in Italy to unveil a heavily revised RSV4 superbike to headline its 2019 range.

Sitting alongside the 999cc RSV4 RR, the new RSV4 1100 Factory boasts 1078cc and generates a claimed 217hp at a relatively high 13,200rpm, 16 more horsepower than the RR, as well as 122Nm of all-important torque at 11,000rpm.

To make better use of the extra grunt, the weight distribution and steering geometry have been tweaked, as has the twin-spar aluminium chassis. The steering angle is slightly sharper which has bought the front wheel 4mm closer to the engine, which has reduced the wheelbase by the same amount, though trail has been increased from 102mm to 104mm.

As expected, the firm’s full gamut of electronics have been thrown at the new machine, and suspension is looked after by way of the same Öhlins’ top-shelf NIX 43mm upside-down fork and TTX rear shock as the RR albeit with a touch more travel, and the Brembo Monobloc M50 calipers have been replaced with the higher-spec Stylema units.

The 1100 weighs 198kg (wet), about 5kg less than the 999cc machine, thanks to the titanium Akrapovic exhaust, lithium-ion battery and carbon fibre bodywork (complete with winglets, of course) all of which are fitted as standard.