After 2 years of anticipation, the Aprilia RSV4 Factory has finally arrived in the US. The RSV4 is being heralded as the most advanced liter-class superbike on the market right now. I was #1 on the waiting list at Scuderia West, the San Francisco Aprilia dealership, as I had put a deposit on one back in 2007 when I first heard a rumor that they were going to build a V4. I had always wanted a V4 but there wasn't anything out there that really inspired me. However, I knew that whatever Aprilia came up with would be top-notch, and I was not disappointed.
The bikes arrived at Scuderia on Wednesday but Don Lemelin, the owner, asked me if I would wait until Saturday to pick up the bike, as that was the day of their annual fall open house party and he wanted to make a bit of a production of delivering the bike. I didn't mind at all. So, on Saturday November 7, my friend Joe Hittner, who also had one on order, picked me up and we headed over to SF. It was great, Don had set up our bikes in front of the shop under a 10' x 10' Aprilia canopy, with red crime scene tape around it, and "SOLD" tags with our names on them taped to the bikes. They had one more on display in the showroom that people could sit on, but ours were off limits to anyone but us. There was a nice crowd at the open house and of course lots of people were drooling over the bikes. We milled around for a couple of hours talking to various folks, got some photos taken, and I did all the paperwork with Don and wrote that big check. It was fun - a bunch of people came out to watch the first RSV4 sold at Scuderia ride off into the sunset.
Riding the bike was simply awe-inspiring. It is surprisingly comfortable, the engine and the gearbox are silky-smooth, handling is effortless, and the exhaust note is throaty even with the stock exhaust and unlike anything else I've ever heard. I didn't get to ride much other than the ride home from SF to Oakland, as I had to wait until Monday to get the insurance coverage set up. I'll give a more complete ride report after next weekend when I can take it for a real ride on some twisty roads.
Here's a picture of Joe and me in front of Scuderia with our bikes. Do we look happy or what?
Here are a few pictures I took of the bike after I got it home:
Now this is what I call attention to detail. Notice how there aren't any loose wires, everything is wrapped and clipped into place. Very nice!
Even the bolts that hold the bodywork on have "Aprilia Racing" etched into them!
