2006–2013 · Supermoto · Buyer's Guide
Italian V-Twin Apex Hunter
Aprilia built the SXV 450 around a 450 cc 77-degree V-twin that spins to 13,000 rpm for its 61 hp, which is race-engine thinking dropped into a street-legal motard. Peak torque is 31 lb-ft, so the figure that really matters is the 300 lb wet weight all of it has to move. Rider aids do not exist here: no ABS, no traction control, no ride modes. What you get instead is adjustable suspension at both ends, 17-inch supermoto rubber, 10.8 in of front travel and a chassis with nothing spare on it. It was a rare machine then and it is rarer now.
This one asks for a skilled rider with a workshop habit, and ownership is the real filter. Early 2006 and 2007 bikes are prone to head gasket failure that lets coolant into the oil, and that road ends in a seized engine if you miss it. Seals and gaskets around the case halves and cylinder bases weep and need watching. The harness can chafe until the bike stalls or refuses to restart. Buy one because you want the most vivid supermoto experience on offer and you accept the service schedule that comes with it. Buy it as daily transport and you will resent it.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 61 hp (45 kW) @ 13,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 31 lb-ft (42 Nm) |
| Displacement | 450 cc |
| Engine | 77° V-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Ground clearance | 12.5 in (318 mm) |
| Front travel | 10.8 in (275 mm) |
| Rear travel | 9.9 in (252 mm) |
| Seat height | 35.8 in (910 mm) |
| Wet weight | 300 lb (136 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.0 gal (7.5 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Twenty years of paddock talk, owner conversations at club nights, and the messages riders send me directly have built a clear picture of this bike. The praise and the complaints come from the same place: nobody stays neutral about an SXV 450. Riders describe an engine and a chassis they rate above almost anything else in the class, and an ownership experience that asks for constant attention in return.
The V-twin is what owners talk about first. They describe instant, controllable power with a hard top-end surge that feels like a race bike rather than a road one, and it suits the way a supermoto is actually ridden. Close behind sits the sense of owning something rare: a twin in a class of singles, built in small numbers, and riders value that separation. The chassis draws steady praise too, sharp steering with real feedback on tight asphalt, and a few owners single out the brakes for lever feel as much as outright stopping power.
The reliability record dominates every conversation. Riders point to coolant and oil mixing through failed gaskets on early bikes, electrical faults, and a general reputation for temperament. Right behind it comes the service load: oil changes measured in single-digit riding hours, top-end work due around 100 hours. Owners also report a hard search for parts and a shortage of shops willing to touch one. A smaller group mentions the seat and the riding position, which punish anyone using it for daily miles.
Coolant and oil mixing due to head gasket failure
Internal coolant leaks between the cylinder heads can contaminate engine oil, leading to rapid wear and potential engine seizure. Most prevalent on early 2006–2007 models.
Premature engine seal and gasket deterioration
Various oil seals and gaskets are prone to leaking, especially around the case halves and cylinder bases, requiring frequent inspection and replacement.
Electrical system gremlins and wire chafing
Wiring harness issues lead to random stalling, failed restarts, and instrument cluster malfunctions. Poor speedo cable routing can cause it to rub against the front disc.
Where this Aprilia SXV 450 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
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the SXV 450 is actually built for.
On tight canyon roads this is about as pure as it gets, and the feedback rewards your skill level. Plan around the small tank and the maintenance, because both will dictate how your day goes.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
For repeated runs on technical, low-gear corners the SXV is a precision instrument and will sharpen your lines. The drive in from Atlanta or Charlotte is the part it hates.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
The Hill Country corners will love it, the distances between them will not. With 2.0 gal of fuel and a demanding service schedule, this is a trailer-in toy, not a roadtrip bike.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Texas Hill Country BDR-X · Twisted Sisters
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 SXV 450. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2025
Track-Only Tarmac Weapon
Competitor · 2005–2007
Race Chassis, Street Registration
Same Platform · 2011–2018
Italian V-Twin Gone Dirt
Roughly $1,000 pricier used than this bike at 13 yr
Similar Character · 2008–2011
Race Bike With A Plate
About the same used price as this bike at 15 yr