Bought another one yesterday Hub, 2027 Aprilia RSV4 Factory this time around...

Here's the new APE waiting for me to sign the paper work and take it home with me.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 10/8/2026 @ 10:47 AM *

I believe this may have just bumped my 2020 BMW S1000RR out of the top spot, this is an incredibly good machine right out of the crate. I programmed the Ohlin's EC-2 suspension to Sport Active/A2 setting and it is freakin good, won't touch it!

Just ordered the Spark.IT Evo Titanium slipon exhuast system for it, should be here in a few days, next up is carbon fiber front and rear huggers from MotoComposites and then a tail tidy to finish things off.

Decided not to go full system headers and UP map this time, I went that route on my '21 RSV4 and it's too much, the '27 is a near perfect blend of out right performance and rideability in stock form and 220 HP is more than enough for me.

Hub you may be able to handle the '21s outrageous pull but I'm getting too old to hang on to this crap anymore, this is my last bike, at least my last superbike, having more fun these days on the RS660s and going almost as fast on a twisty backroad.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 10/5/2026 @ 1:11 PM *

Yes Kruz, torque is in the blood for me. Does not get old in my wheelhouse. Congrats. Of course I would have said go for it. LOL

I must admit, you sure have a good eye for motorcycles. Between the duc's, the SS, and the apes, it's an eclectic bunch.

Have fun out there before the snow, then sit around and wait for it to thaw.

Yessir, the Aprilias are all known for delivering the top torque in their respective classes, makes life entertaining!

Was out on the new RSV4 this morning cutting a hot lap and this guy blew by me like I was stuck in first gear...

Hopefully any snow is still months away, typically January or February. October, November and December are often the best riding in North Texas, cool and sunny with light winds but you never know what your going to get, it's not SoCal....

Ha! Borrowed leathers. Squid and his first year of racing. Not a twitch out of that bike. Where did you find that?

Ha! Borrowed leathers. Squid and his first year of racing. Not a twitch out of that bike. Where did you find that?

That's the old H2 Widowmaker isn't it, a two smoker? They were known back in the day for having pretty evil handling, like the frame was made out of string cheese, took a real man to ride one fast I hear. Hat's off to you Hub, found that old photo in my archive file....

Like I said, Kruz, not a wobble, wrinkle when I raced that bike. Guess the trick was to be smooth? However I do remember when I switched to a CB750 Honda single cam, I put the H2 back to the street. Went around a corner at a traffic light img]/images/emoticons/VroomVroom.gif[/img] a little robustly, and the bike twitched so hard, it flew my mechanics uniform out of the bungie cords I had around the back of the seat.

* Last updated by: Hub on 10/6/2026 @ 11:33 AM *

Yessir I remember the Honda CB750, it was a dream bike for me a as a teenager, untouchable on a 15 year olds salary, making up for it now with a vengeance...

I bought the 750 as a total, ordered a frame and put it together. Had RC Engineering warm it over and won two club championships with it on the next year of racing. Then went pro in superbike with their help. They hopped up a Suzuki 1000 and came in 3rd in a 6hour. Led for 2 hours while Yoshi had problems. They came back to win. Co-rider was kind of slow, but that's racing.

Blew it up at Daytona and guessing I had a 3rd row start. Came to the track to watch the race and a guy had a Yosi engine in his and crashed in practice in the morning. Broke and arm or something. Said borrow his and split the purse. So a gang of buddies helped swap engine and the AMA waited for me to finish. Was within minutes so lucky me.

They threw me in the back of the field of the last row of guys. Started in the front of that pack so it was 53rd place. I was so spooked of this crank grenading, I cruised to 17th spot at the end. Funny, but the RC engine had a top end hit, while the Yoshi cam was smooth from the bottom up.

Interesting and highly entertaining story from another era, my hats off to you Hub for being able to ride those things.....

the
My two '27 Aprilias, the RSV4 is an absolute dream, the RS660 is giving me fits on suspension setup, both are Ohlins but the little bike has the manual Ohlins setup and really way off base, the RSV4 has the Ohlins EC2 active suspension and I can't fault it, plush in the bumps but also excellent chassis control.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 10/8/2026 @ 10:45 AM *

Rotax engine, right Kruz? On the 2027 that is.

Rotax engine, right Kruz? On the 2027 that is.

Negative Hub, Rotax engines have not been used in Aprilias since the Mille about 15 years ago, the RSV4's 65 degree V4 mill was the first clean sheet Aprilia engine design in 2009, the RS660 is a new parallel twin design from 2021 that borrows the front cylinders off the RSV4 with a lengthened stroke to give 659cc.

Ah, a little history lesson. My ape was a twin and case covers were stamped Rotax. I about shit they used an airplane engine company to devise a bike engine that could fit in a frame. I remember some local meetup of ape riders. Did not know the road so back to instinct riding. Guy turned up his music(?) on his phone is what I remember most. Guy could ride. So I stayed up on his ass.

Go to a duc dealer and show the ape as a trade-in. He catches no chicken stripes on the edge of the tire, mentions I must boog. Never noticed it until he mentioned it. Bike was a handler.

I can imagine the ride on that ape. Probably same steering between the 600 and the V4?

Hubster the RSV4 Factory and RS660 factory are both great handling machines, the 660 is light and nimble but Ohlins suspension is a bit harsh in the bumps, I've adjusted every way to Sunday and decided it is what it is. The RSV4 Factory Electronic Ohlins EC-2 suspension is awesome right out of the crate.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 10/14/2026 @ 8:22 AM *

Thanks, Kruz. What I was getting at was that when I test rode an inline BMW, it steered like my opposed twin BMW. I was thinking that maybe the apes had the same geometry, i.e., rake and trail. Do they seem to steer like each other?

Yessir, Aprilia knows how to make a bike handle and both the RSV4 and RS660 share the same DNA, Aprilia's currently leading the MotoGP point standing with 1st and 3rd place and swept the podium last week in Indonesia, this could be their year!

Aprilia made MotoGP history at the October 11, 2026 Indonesian Grand Prix at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit by sweeping the top four positions with its RS-GP26 machines.

Indonesian GP Top 4 Results

Position Rider Team Machine
1st Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing Aprilia RS-GP26
2nd Raúl Fernández Trackhouse MotoGP Team Aprilia RS-GP26
3rd Jorge Martín Aprilia Racing Aprilia RS-GP26
4th Ai Ogura Trackhouse MotoGP Team Aprilia RS-GP26

Key Details from the Race

• Historic Milestone: This marked the first-ever 1-2-3-4 finish (poker finish) for Aprilia in MotoGP.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 10/15/2026 @ 3:02 PM *

All the goodies have arrived for the new RSV4, Spark Force Titanium slipon, carbon fiber huggers, tail tidy, tank protector, exhaust servo eliminator, now just have to put everything on!

Probably not going to tune this bike Hub, rode the '21 RSV4 this morning, fully tuned with Akra full system and it is just too fast for the road, might be perfect for COTA though!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 10/19/2026 @ 3:33 PM *