New suspension and a robust electronic suite makes this a better RSV4 than its ever been

Aprilia fields a new generation of its proven RSV4 superbike for MY2021, and these improvements carry directly over into 2022. New, wind tunnel-tested bodywork delivers better lower-drag penetration than ever before along with new suspension and more torque on tap. This all falls under the guidance of a robust ride-control electronics suite that allows for complete control over the 200-plus horsepower beast hiding under the cowling.

[For the RSV4 1100, via ahead of MY21. An 81 mm bore and new 53.32 mm stroke leave this engine with a nuclear-hot 13.6-to-1 compression ratio that will come with certain fuel demands that you ignore at your peril.

A new crankshaft brings with it a new crankcase shape to accommodate these changes. To keep the head compact, the valve drivechain only turns the intake cams which in turn drives the exhaust cam bona fide gear drive.

Fully ride-by-wire, the inputs from the pilot wash through the filter of the new Magneti Marelli ECU. The Aprilia Performance Ride Control bundle adds its own input with just about every fandangled contraption you can imagine.

First, you can choose between a trio of engine maps that tailor power delivery to suit. The traction- and wheelie-control make sure you don't blow your holeshot on a moonshot or spin out. A Launch Control feature rocks three profiles, “for track use only,” to further control your blastoff.

Once underway, you can count on the Engine Brake control that delivers corner-sensitive drag-torque mitigation to further protect the rear contact patch. A pit limiter keeps your speed down, also for track use.

The Quick Shift feature now lets you bang your way both ways through the six-speed, cassette-style gearbox for shifts without pulling the clutch or even bothering to roll off the throttle. A slipper-type clutch adds yet another layer of insurance for the rear contact patch with a chain-type final drive.

Aprilias RSV4 1100 Specs With the overall drive ratio factored in, Wheelbase:.

Yeah, The Aprilia RSV4 costs $18,999., but make no mistake, this is a Read more Aprilia news. racebike. Aprilia spared no expense on the design, and it shows. A minimal front fender leads the way and starts the aerodynamic yummygoodness right out of the gate because less surface means less air contact, hence less drag.

A close-fit scoop, formed by the forward engine cowling, shifts the visual weight forward. This lends it an aggressive mien, but the most important details are far from cosmetic.

At the leading edge of the fairing and below the headlights a set of ram-air ports funnel pressurized air from the wave ahead of the bike. This adds up to a seven-percent increase in airbox pressure, which improves volumetric efficiency by a similar amount. Unfortunately, you'll garner no boost from it on public roads as the effect doesn't really make itself felt to around the 100 mph mark.

A pair of winglets ride sandwiched between the double walls in the middle of the fairing. Not only does this protect the winglets, but the outer wall acts as a spoiler to reduce the drag-inducing wing-tip vortices that could otherwise develop. These winglets produce downforce at the front contact patch to help keep the front hoop planted under hard acceleration.

A triple headlight unit splits the night with built-in DRL bars for daytime visibility. All the lights benefit from LED technology, and there's a pair of secondary headlights within the reflector that throw light into the curve, not just where the bike is pointing. It's what the factory calls “bending lights.”

To further improve the ergonomics, the factory dropped the saddle by 9 mm down to 845 mm (33.26 inches) and the jockey-mount footpegs now ride 10 mm lower as well. In spite of the lowered equipment, lean angles increased by 1.5 degrees to each side for very deep dives into the curves indeed.

As with most race-tastic rides, the rear mudguard carries both the license plate and blinkers. It joins with the mirrors as equipment that is easily removed ahead of track days.

The lightweight frame on the RSV4 1100 relies on welded cast- and pressed-aluminum components with the appropriate amount of flexion baked right in. Like you'd expect with a racebike frame, it comes with an adjustable headstock angle and swingarm pivot along with the means to shift the engine's position in the frame.

The new swingarm drops 600 grams of unsprung weight at the rear axle while picking up 30 percent in its lateral rigidity at the pivot where much of the strain occurs. At the steering head, a Sachs steering damper soaks up the kickbacks when you let the front wheel back down, an important feature on a stupidfast bike such as this. Sachs provides the rest of the suspension with 43 mm usd front forks and monoshock out back.

The front forks deliver 127 mm (5 inches) of travel while the rear bumps it up a skosh to 130 mm (5.11 inches), which is plenty for both track and street. As for adjustments, the monoshock comes with the full trinity, but the forks drop the spring preload from its list of features.

A set of three-spoke, aluminum-alloy wheels round out the rolling chassis, both 17 inches. They come lined with a 120/70 ahead of a 200/55 with a top “Z” speed rating that'll handle over 149 mph.

The brakes are serious business indeed with four-barrel opposed-piston Brembo Stylema anchors that bite 330 mm front discs. Out back, a two-pot binder and 220 mm disc take care of business. Bosch supplies the ABS feature that is of the cornering variety with Rear-Wheel Lift-up Mitigation to prevent endos.

You can get the new RSV4 in any color you like, as long as you like their monochromatic Dark Losail colorway. The Aprilia RSV4 costs $18,999.

APRC System (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) that includes:

Aprilia faces some stiff headwinds in its domestic market from Ducati, so I went to see what Duc had for us. The Panigale V4 seems like a likely suspect.

Like the RSV4 1100, the Panigale is a Read more Aprilia news. race machine->https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-news/drag-race-porsche-918-spyder-instantly-regrets-going-against-a-motogp-bike-ar196726.html made street legal or stripped for actual track use. The bodywork has low-drag penetration and sports a pair of divided winglets, one on each side, for that downforce effect. That force keeps the front end down and the front contact patch spread out.

Ducati breaks even in the stems and the brakes since both bikes carry top-shelf gear. Neither have electronic suspension control on the base model, so there's room for improvement here.

Displacement is neck-and-neck as are the power figures. A 1,103 cc in the Desmosedici Stradale V4 drives the Duc with 210 ponies and 90.6 pounds o' grunt against 217/92 on the Aprilia. Honestly, the stock electronics cover many of the same bases expected at this tier.

Yeah, there's a lot of samey-same here, until the checkout counter. Ducati slaps a $23,295 sticker on their Panigale V4 base model, which leaves a significant amount of moolah on the table. It leaves Aprilia looking like an excellent option compared to the Ducati.

“On its face, it's clear that this is a lot of bike for the buck, but that really pops into sharp relief when comparing the goodies-to-cost ratio followed by the price. Don't let the accessibility fool you. This machine is a monster, and is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart.”

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “This is not a poser bike. If you don't have the skillset to handle the power, look at something else or make me the beneficiary of your life insurance. I put this up there with the Fireblade or the Ninja H2. Power delivery is strong and smooth, and the quickshifter is flawless. The bike is solid, so you don't feel the speed and if you're not paying attention to the display, you'll end up going much faster than you thought you were.”

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 starts at $37,195 and goes all the way up to $83,695.

The GMC Sierra is one of the top four trucks, which also comprises the Ford F-150, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and the Ram 1500. It comes with its unique set of pros, like offering the best-in-class 4WD diesel towing capacity of 13,000 pounds, the most powerful diesel engine in the class, front and rear e-lockers, and available Super Cruise hands-free technology, amongst other things.

Although seen as Chevy’s sidekick, GMC vehicles are arguably more stylish and luxurious. They are also built to look a lot more muscular and carry a lot of character.

The Denali and the Denali Ultimate are the uber-luxurious and advanced models of the Sierra pickup truck. They are inherently better than the standard Sierra models in all senses.

TJ got an early start from his father and other family members who owned and rode motorcycles, and by helping with various mechanical repairs throughout childhood. That planted a seed that grew into a well-rounded appreciation of all things mechanical, and eventually, into a formal education of same. Though primarily a Harley rider, he has an appreciation for all sorts of bikes and doesn’t discriminate against any particular brand or region of origin. He currently holds an Associate’s degree in applied mechanical science from his time at the M.M.I.