2010–2013 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Italian V-Twin With Touring Manners
The GT is the Shiver wearing a half-fairing, and the extra bodywork changes what the bike is for. At its center sits a 750 cc 90° V-twin making 95 hp at 9,000 rpm and 58 lb-ft at 7,250, fed through a ride-by-wire throttle with three selectable maps for sport, touring and rain conditions. Around it: a stiff tubular and aluminum frame, an upside-down fork, a 320 mm front disc with radial-mount calipers, and full-size 17-inch rubber. This is a middleweight Italian naked that stops pretending you never ride past the city limits.
It rides like a charismatic twin bolted into a chassis that flatters you instead of testing you. The seat sits at 31.3 in, the bars are wide, and the fairing buys you enough cover to make the highway stretch between good roads bearable. That suits a rider who wants Italian character in a usable size. The honest math: 498 lb wet is real weight for a 750, and 33 mpg from a 4.0 gal tank means the fuel light arrives sooner than you would like. ABS was an option rather than standard, so check the specific bike in front of you.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) @ 9,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 58 lb-ft (79 Nm) @ 7,250 rpm |
| Displacement | 750 cc |
| Engine | 90° V-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Seat height | 31.3 in (795 mm) |
| Wet weight | 498 lb (226 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 gal (15 L) |
| Top speed | 130 mph (209 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 33 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
This part isn't my verdict. It's two decades of listening: paddock conversations, owner chats in parking lots and at club nights, and the messages riders send me directly about bikes they actually live with. On the Shiver GT the chatter lands in the same place almost every time. Riders talk about the engine and the corners first, then get honest about what they have learned to work around.
The V-twin dominates the praise. Riders describe strong, broad pull that arrives from low revs without demanding anything clever from the rider. Close behind is the way it corners: the stiff frame and the adjustable shock at the rear come up again and again as the reason it feels assured and nimble where it counts. Owners also point to the quality of the hardware they got for the money, and plenty enjoy owning something Italian that few of their riding buddies have.
The most common complaint is low-speed throttle response. Riders call it snatchy and abrupt in slow traffic, worst in the sportiest map, and most have taught themselves to slip the clutch through town. Weight is the next theme. Set against lighter middleweight rivals, owners say it feels blunted rather than eager. Fuel consumption draws steady grumbling too, since it drinks more than most of the competition. A smaller group mentions condensation inside the dash.
Coolant manifold T‑piece cracking
The plastic coolant T‑junction can become brittle and crack, leading to coolant leaks and potential overheating.
MAP and speed sensor failures
Faulty sensors can trigger warning lights, erratic running, or limp‑home mode. Typically occur after wet weather or washing.
Water ingress in electrical connectors
Moisture can enter connectors (especially under the tank), causing starting issues, dash warnings, or sensor glitches. Drying and dielectric grease reduce recurrence.
Where this Aprilia SL 750 Shiver GT pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the SL 750 Shiver GT is actually built for.
Long Hill Country loops with real distance between the good corners suit the GT, and the half-fairing earns its keep on the connecting highway. Just plan fuel stops: 33 mpg from a 4.0 gal tank goes quickly.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
The Dragon and the Cherohala reward line and feel over horsepower, which is where this bike lives. Front-end feedback and ground clearance are the two things you will use on every single lap of your favorite road.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
On Angeles Crest this is quick and composed rather than savage, and 95 hp is plenty of engine for a canyon road. If you want raw top-end violence, this is not the bike you are looking for.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Aprilia SL 750 Shiver GT. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2008–2014
Light, Loud, Genuinely Italian
Roughly $1,000 pricier used than this bike at 13 yr
Competitor · 2007–2012
Triple Soul, Razor Handling
Roughly $600 pricier used than this bike at 14 yr
Competitor · 2007–2013
Reliable Fun, No Frills
Roughly $1,000 pricier used than this bike at 13 yr
Same Platform · 2010–2013
Italian V-Twin With Teeth
About the same used price as this bike at 13 yr