Aprilia RXV motorcycles

RXV: EVOLUTION CONTINUES
 
Evolution in the name of competitiveness: this is the mission of Aprilia RXV 4.5/5.5 model year 2009. Experience gained from Aprilia Racing excellent results in the Enduro World Championship has led to Aprilia designers and engineers transferring even more race technology into this amazing production motorcycle.
 
 
Everybody involved with the RXV has worked hard and in close co-operation to introduce a number of major improvements compared to last year motorcycle, making this year model even more ace ready? and better able to deliver complete satisfaction to demanding amateur and professional riders.
 
 
DESIGN: DETAILS COUNT
 
As with all Aprilias, a tremendous amount of care and attention has been lavished on even the smallest details on the RXV. As a result the RXV boasts a unique, unmistakable styling that is nevertheless fully functional in achieving the sort of unrivalled performance that a genuine competition motorcycle demands.
 
 
Essential, decisive lines convey a sensation of lightness and build quality. The RXV designers have been eager to incorporate the features that distinguish all Aprilias, and have launched a whole new type of off-road motorcycle. You simply can fail to appreciate technology like the V twin engine, mixed steel trellis frame and sculpted swingarm. The tail and rear side panels are totally different in styling from traditional off-road designs. Whichever way you look at it, the RXV presents a host of stunning technical solutions, all enhanced by original racing colours to express the aggressive nature of this born-to-race mean machine.
 
 
Every aspect of the bike features intelligent design solutions. Fixed air ducts, for example, allow the fuel tank to tilt up for easy access to the air filter box.
 
 
Everything about the RXV is dedicated to winning races. The quest for technical perfection has led the design team to improve even the most insignificant details on the basis of input from the many time champions who have raced the RXV.
 
 
ENGINE: CONTINUOUS EVOLUTION
 
The amazing 45.2 engine is, of course, the centre piece of RXV technology. Aprilia was the first manufacturer in the world to believe in the validity of V twin architecture in a market segment in which all other marques still cling rigidly to single cylinder engines. Aprilia high-tech V twin design has already proved 100% reliable in competition. Even homologation for road use has not compromised the technology and performance of this exceptional engine, which is produced entirely by Aprilia. Since the earliest stages of the design process, the 45.2 has evolved to keep pace with chassis development and to give the RXV an unbeatable mix of power and handling.
 
 
The 77?V angle is the result of extensive testing, aimed not only at boosting power but also at reducing vibration. As a result Aprilia engineers have been able to eliminate engine balancer shafts. Despite this the 45.2 engine still vibrates far less than any single cylinder alternative.
 
 
The cylinders themselves are integrated in the crankcase and have replaceable wet liners. This unique layout has allowed the engine ancillaries to be arranged in a way that achieves extremely compact dimensions. The results are amazing: the Aprilia V twin is one of the most compact twins in the world, and smaller in size than many singles of similar displacement.
 
 
All design choices have been taken in order to obtain maximum ridability and an extended power band for off-road riding.
 
 
The sophisticated electronic engine management system, developed by Aprilia Racing, incorporates numerous innovations for the off-road sector.
 
 
The injection system features 38 mm throttle bodies (40 mm on the 550) and is managed by a programmable control unit. The ECU of the 2009 model is able to switch between two different mappings at the touch of a switch on the handlebars.
 
 
This extremely useful innovation offers a full power mapping for use in conditions of good grip, and a second, softer mapping for smoother power delivery under challenging conditions. The system provides an extremely valid aid to control and has been welcomed both by expert riders (the system was actually tested in the final phases of the world championship) and by off-road fans in general. All you need is one quick click to select exactly the right power delivery for the circumstances.
 
 
The new ECU and stepper motor throttle bodies make starting much easier under all conditions, and deliver smoother and more controllable power too.
 
 
Reduced unitary displacement has allowed Aprilia to develop an extremely compact and lightweight crankshaft. The engine is more responsive to variations in throttle opening as a result, and the bike as a whole is faster and more manoeuvrable thanks to the reduced gyroscopic effect from the crankshaft. In the MY ?9 the flywheel has increased in weight to improve power delivery and achieve a smoother ride.
 
 
The single overhead cam configuration with four titanium valves per cylinder head represents an ideal compromise between compact size, light weight and high performance. Thanks to its advanced technology, the 45.2 is also an extremely silent running and ecological engine. Technology, after all, should mean reliability and longevity as well as high performance. The 45.2 engine touches new heights in this direction, and permits extremely easy access to parts requiring regular maintenance like the spark plugs, oil filter and air filter.
 
 
Just as much effort has been put into weight reduction, and the 45.2 engine sets a new record for a V twin with an electric starter. Abundant use has been made of prestige lightweight materials. The central crankcase sections are in aluminium-silicon alloy; external engine casings are in magnesium; the valves are in titanium; and all gears are exceptionally light in weight.
 
 
A closer look at the unique characteristics of the 45.2 engine
 

Evolution in the name of competitiveness: this is the mission of Aprilia RXV 4.5/5.5 model year 2009. Experience