My Street Bike!

After numerous spy shots and leaked details, Aprilia has finally pulled the wraps off its upcoming RSV4 superbike. This is the machine that the Italian company will use to contest the Superbike World Championship in 2009 against the Ducati 1098 and the Japanese literbikes.

To properly do battle, the RSV4 will make some 210-horsepower — fully competitive with the best the series currently has to offer. While the race-going RSV4 is an amazing piece of kit, it’s the street-bred RESV4, which will come in both normal and factory guises, that’s of the most interest… since you’ll actually be able to purchase one sometime next year.

Powered by a 999cc V-Four engine mated to a six-speed gearbox with slipper clutch, we expect the Factory to be on par power-wise with the Ducati 1098R, meaning about 180 horses or more. Coupled to a wet weight of 418 pounds the RSV4 will be one seriously fast machine. A ride-by-wire system will likely allow Aprilia to offer more than one engine map to adjust power for specific conditions. One of the more interesting bits of kit that will be standard across the line are the numerous chassis adjustments, including the ability to alter the swingarm position and the headstock angle. Styling-wise, the new RSV4 tips its hat to the RSV 1000R that we tested earlier this year with its third eye headlight that mimics the shape of the old ram-air duct from the twin. The rest of the bike looks thoroughly new and appropriately awesome. We’re not sure how much it’ll cost, but we know we want one regardless.

Let the speculation end! BMW has officially pulled the covers off of its S 1000 RR race bike, which will sprout a production model next year. General Director of BMW Motorrad Hendrik von Kuenheim says that the company is committed to building 1,000 units of the new model next year. Featuring a 1000cc inline-four transversely mounted between the frame rails and an upside-down front fork, the RR is rather conventional by BMW standards.

This has allowed the Motorrad to keep the bike as compact as possible, which can be attested to by the fact that it has been spotted lapping tracks in Yamaha R6 bodywork. So far, no specifications have been given regarding power levels, but we fully expect it to be competitive with the Superbike front-runners. Traction control is also reportedly put to good use. Judging from the extensive use of (bare) carbon fiber, we’d expect the weight to be on par with the competition, as well. There’s an entire speech pasted after the break, so be sure to check it out.

BMW plans to crack the top ten next year in World Superbike racing and is expecting podium finishes the following year. Considering the fact that the Big Four Japanese manufacturers literally have a head start measuring a few decades on BMW, it’s probably wise to set attainable goals for now.

MORE PHOTO’S

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Former Yamaha engineer Jean-Michel Thiers has developed an all-new hub-centre steer superbike using an R1 engine to prove that the system offers a real advantage over conventional telescopic forks.

Thiers set up his own company Tier Motorsports to develop and market the single-sided hub-centre concept with planned products ranging from hub-centre-steering conversion kits for motocross bikes to a full-on superbike built around the 180bhp engine from Yamaha’s R1.

He was also the man responsible for the design of Yamaha’s own GTS1000 in the early 1990s, but Thiers’ patent-pending system is unique to his new machine. He said: “What differentiates us from previous attempt at front swing arm is our patent-pending Four-Bar steering mechanism inside the hub of the wheel.

“This alone eliminates feedback of road disturbances, pot-holes etc, into the handlebars leaving you with very light and very precise steering.”