Aprilia Rsv Mule Sp
Aprilia RSV Mule SP
Ducati beater?
DUCATI'S PLANS TO PRODUCE A LIMited run of 996-based Carl Fogarty Replicas have prompted Aprilia to unveil its own race-spec roadburner: the RSV Mille SP. The SP is a carbon copy of the factory machine campaigned in World Superbike by Peter Goddard. Only 150 examples will be produced, each costing approximately $30,000.
Developed for Aprilia by automo tive-specialist Cosworth, the engine is
a radical re-think of the standard RSV Mille’s fuel-injected, dohc, liquidcooled, 60-degree V-Twin. Clean, compact and purposeful in appearance, it has only the 11.5:1 compression ratio, 51mm throttle bodies and aforementioned vee-angle in common with the street unit. Among the changes are bigger valves set at a narrower angle, revised combustion chambers, more oversquare cylinder dimensions (100.0 x 63.4mm) and race-spec 2-1-2 pipe. As well, each cylinder has a single, centrally located sparkplug, not the twin-plug arrangement Aprilia lauded as a great plus on the RSV Mille. Claimed output is 145 horsepower and 83 foot-pounds of torque, up from 128 bhp and 76 ft.-lbs.
That power is harnessed by an aluminum twinspar frame structurally similar to the standard unit, but with a slightly shorter wheelbase and adjustments for steering geometry, swingarm pivot location and engine height. This, combined with the Superbike-spec Öhlins fork and shock absorber, makes
engine is strong and picks up revs quickly.
Instead of a final top-end bang!, though, there’s only the rev-limiter. The chassis is wonderfully balanced, with perfectly tuned suspension and superb grip. As a result, the SP handles better than a Ducati 996, but only just. The detail
for a chassis that can be tailored to its rider. Brembo supplies the impeccable four-piston brakes and Pirelli its latest Dragon Sport Evo radiais. Claimed dry weight is 408 pounds.
Around
Italy’s
Mugello racetrack, the SP was impressive. The
work is equally inspiring (Bimota has nothing on Aprilia) and the ergonomics are surprisingly comfortable. Call it a racer for the long haul.
-Bruno de Prato
Half -Faired Head-Turner
Aprilia is targeting the street-going sport-Twin market with a new half faired V-Twin. Offered in black or
burgundy, the sport-oriented SL1 000 is powered by a grunty 126crankshaft-horsepower version of
the standard RSV Mule's 60-degree mill. As with the RSV, the SL has an aluminum frame and removable subframe, but its twin "spars" comprise two pairs of polished alloy tubes mated to cast swingarm-pivot plates. With a reputed dry weight of 394 pounds and a top speed of 160 mph, the sub-Si 2,000 SL should easily outrun its American, Asian and European competition, including Bimota's DB4, BMW's R1100S, Buell's S3 Thunderbolt, Ducati's 900SS, Honda's VTR1000F and Suzuki's TL1000S. A "naked" Ducati M900 challenger and a fully faired sport-tourer are also rumored, though their respective releases are scheduled for no earlier than 2001. -Matthew Miles
