Aprilia RSV550 prototype confirmed
When pushed for answers concerning the possibility of wedging Aprilia's 550 V-twin into the legendary RS250 chassis, Aprilia's Motorcycle Product Manager, Francesco Polimeni, smiled and said with a heavy accent, "Yes. It is a beautiful engine. In fact, we have a prototype at the factory." Wow, so you put it in the RS250 chassis, right? "No. Actually, the RS125 chassis is, as you know, oversized and very robust. So we put the engine in that." Get out.
Already huge fans of the RS chassis, we were more than a little excited by the prospect of seeing the platform reborn into what could be the most brilliant machine since Terblanche's SuperMono. We're also betting the diminutive prototype is devastating in the corners, able to out-handle it's bulkier, heavier inline-4 rivals.
A clear nod to the golden era of Grand Prix road racing, before the rise of the 2-strokes, the ultra-light, near 500cc V-Twin 4-stroke probably won't be cheap if when it gets made. But if the successes and characteristics of the RS125 and both the SXV and RXV are any indication of the RSV550's capabilities, we'd definitely be willing to starve a little.
So you know, the image above unfortunately isn't real. We just couldn't help ourselves from playing and thought this might be something close.
Grant Ray. November 04, 2009 — Permalink
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I hope this is close to what the production bike will look like. How Nice. This would make a nice companion for my Daytona 675.
oh please, oh please, oh please!!!
zoran over at twin works factory did up a nice 250 framed 550 conversion.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/twf164/TWF55034.jpg
-peter
my hands started shaking for a second there,i thought it would be a 2 stroke,not that the sxv is a bore(it's ferocious) but i always liked the 500cc 2 stroke era from motogp
oh well..one can only hope
If I understand correctly,this would use the same SXV 550 motor? I would camp out like a Halo kid for the launch of this thing!
If this ever gets made and brought into the U.S....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_sexuality
'nuff said.
The interesting part of the equation will be what happens to the 550 engine once they are done "The current engine, he acknowledged, would have to be retooled with considerably more robustness to deal with continued use as a daily driver"... To me, that means it get's the ol' DOT treatment which will tone it down considerably. Heavier frame, internals, lights, emissions, ect... Maybe they can do it in such a way that it can easily be "undone" by the track guys.
This is such a brilliant idea it can't possibly succeed.
Holy Crap!
Awesomeness.
If they can find a way to keep weight under 300 pounds, I'll be all over this like flies on shit.
OMG! I know what I want Santa to bring me.
Even before the economy got hoslapped by the "invisible hand" Americans never got smaller displacement sportsbikes. Not street legal ones anyways. Have times changed? I hope so, but I kinda doubt it.
Maybe if Aprilia make this, KTM will see their way clear to make the rumored RC4.
Yes, OMG DOOODS! Stupid economy had to stupid tank right when things were getting good. If only I was a prototype tester, that would really be something.
So Grant, you doing a whole tour over in Italy or what?
Actually, KTM Totally makes an RC4 right now. That's what they're calling their 450 motocross motor these days.
I meant the RC4 that they aren't making:
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2008/02/ktm-rc4-sketches-leaked.html
The Italians are really stepping it up lately.
I wish, I wish, I wish...
I'd be all over that.
I know the economy says that credit is bad and we all need to save more but if they come out with this thing I'm going to have to make a big affirmative vote of confidence for Aprilia and buy one of these no matter what.
Good idea, but they need to work on the motor for a road use.
We're created a prototype, the Roadson BT550Superleggera, (with the help of Aprilia) with this motor and it was amazing!
http://www.roadson.fr/BT550Superleggera/index.php
Holy F word! That thing better make it to production!
OMG! OMG! OMG! passes out
Oh, happy day!!!! The RS250....er RS550 is BACK.
If...er...WHEN it gets here, I am so getting one.
Interesting, firstly because the chains are on different sides on respective bikes. I suppose it would not be much to raid the parts bin or knock up a new swingarm to suit.
It would need brakes and suspension more along the lines of the 250, but aprilia has always been good in that department.
amazing. rs125-frames are quite common and cheap - why wait ? buy an crate sxv engine and build the ultimate bad boy's toy . if I can get my hands on these two parts , I could improvise the rest in a month . track day machine - I love it .
those interested in this type of bike might enjoy reading glen williams' article in the november 2009 "bike rider magazine" concerning new zealand rider jason easton's 550 aprilia tigcraft (http://www.brm.co.nz/Default.aspx) or in talking with dave pearce (info@tigcraft.com) about the design.
Give us a 2 stroke 500 please.