APRILIA RSV4 RF
THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… “Destroying hoops...”
It’s finally happened! I’ve finally taken my RSV4 out on track, and what an awesome time I had. It’s like anything you buy; it’s always a bit of a gamble. And when you’re talking of bikes and how capable they’re likely to be on track, the only way to find out is to swing a leg and muller some rubber. I’m talking trackdays, of course, which is what I did with Bruce and Neil at Brands Hatch a few days ago. We were only riding the Indy circuit, but I genuinely had a fantastic time and it was great to sample what my RSV4 had in its arsenal. Those of you who’ve ridden the Aprilia on track will know I had nothing to worry about, but it was more a case of wanting to know how well I suited the bike more than how capable it was going to be. I mean, look at it. It’s a right bloody weapon with more racing pedigree dialled into it than Rossi’s left testicle, but that didn’t mean it would suit me and my style of riding.
Of course, writing this now is making me wonder why I ever doubted the bond the Brands track experience has given me. I’ve had such a laugh with this bike on the road, and I feel proper comfortable with it, so it was likely I’d feel the same on closed roads. And that’s exactly what happened.
Given the opportunity to really push the bike, I found it a real treat to ride. That V4 motor is nothing short of genius with loads of punch on tap. You’re absolutely flying before you know it, which is why I was chuffed at how sharp the front brakes proved to be. They were razor sharp, consistent and gave me loads of feel, which was great for trailing them into corners. The last thing I wanted was to go lobbing my bike, so I wasn’t riding it to the absolute max, but I wasn’t hanging around either. If you read my column last month then you’ll remember I said about the damping being a little harsh on the roads, but it made perfect sense on track. All the time I felt like the bike was planted, which did my head no end of good. There’s nothing worse than hopping on a bike that feels like it’s wanting to kill you at every corner. You know the types I mean? You can’t relax and they really nab you of a good time. Nope, the Aprilia gave me none of that nonsense.
Something else that’s made me smile this month is the fitment of some GiaMoto rearsets. They’re absolutely stunning, especially in the Pole Position colours that suits my bike. I bloody love them and really rated them for the additional grip the knurled pegs gave me, but also for their adaptability for positioning. I’ve had a few spills over the years and that sometimes gives my knees a bit of grief, so being able to alter the peg position with these rearsets has been fantastic. If you’re on the lookout for some, you need to check these out because I genuinely don’t reckon there’s anything better on the market.