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2015–2020 · Supersport · A variant of the RSV4
Differences between the standard RSV4 and the RR
Loud, Sharp, Brutally Fast V4
The RSV4 in this form is built around one thing: a 1000 cc V4 that makes 201 hp at 13,000 rpm and sounds like nothing else on a starting grid. It's a narrow, compact machine, and the 55.9 in (1420 mm) wheelbase tells you the intent before you ever swing a leg over it. The APRC package sits on top of that with ride-by-wire and three switchable maps, traction, wheelie and launch control, plus slide control. Fully adjustable suspension front and rear, a steering damper, an up-quickshifter and a slipper clutch come as standard. This is Aprilia thinking straight out of the Superbike paddock, and it shows.
Ridden well, it rewards you with lean clearance most riders will never use up and a chassis that hits a line and holds it. That takes commitment. The 33.3 in (845 mm) seat and 450 lb (204 kg) wet aren't the issue; the riding position and the way the engine wants revs are. Below the top third of the tach it feels like it's waiting for you. This bike is for the experienced rider who wants feedback and precision above comfort. Check the brake recalls on 2016-2017 master cylinders and 2017-2020 pads before you buy.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 201 hp (148 kW) @ 13,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 85 lb-ft (115 Nm) @ 10,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 1000 cc |
| Engine | V4 |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 200/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 55.9 in (1420 mm) |
| Seat height | 33.3 in (845 mm) |
| Wet weight | 450 lb (204 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.9 gal (18.5 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Safety
The RSV4 RR (MY2015-RR) builds on the standard RSV4: the upgraded hardware, the key spec changes and where its character shifts. The full ride, specs, scoring and verdict are all right here on this page.
Equipment the RR adds vs the standard RSV4
Twenty years of listening adds up. Paddock conversations, chats with owners in parking lots, club nights, and the messages riders send me directly all feed into what follows. For the RSV4 in this generation, the chatter is unusually consistent: riders talk about the engine and the electronics almost in the same breath, and they keep coming back to how little the bike asks of them once they're moving. The gripes are narrow, and they're about the bills, not the ride.
Two things dominate what riders say. One is the V4 itself, a top-end rush with a growl owners describe as unmatched by any inline-four, pulling hard from the middle and screaming to the redline. The other is the electronics. Traction, wheelie and launch control plus the quickshifter work together well enough that riders stop thinking about them. Close behind, owners praise a chassis that steers razor-sharp and stays flickable, with front-end feel that holds up under pressure. Braking power draws steady approval too. A few riders note the seating position is more livable than the shape suggests, and long stints at speed don't punish them the way they expected.
The recurring complaint is maintenance. Valve clearance checks on the V4 are labor-intensive, and owners flag the cost as something to plan for rather than discover.
Front brake master cylinder failure (Recall)
2016-2017 models were recalled for a front brake master cylinder that may fail, causing loss of braking ability.
Front brake pad delamination (Recall)
2017-2020 models were recalled for front brake pads that could delaminate, reducing braking efficiency.
Where this Aprilia RSV4 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 RSV4 is actually built for.
On Angeles Crest this thing is superb, and the V4 noise off the rock faces alone justifies it. Getting there through LA traffic is the price you pay, and it's a real one.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
This is exactly what you're looking for. Fully adjustable suspension, launch control and a chassis with lean clearance to spare mean the bike will keep raising the ceiling as your skills grow.
Made for Barber Motorsports Park · WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca · Circuit of the Americas
Precision and feedback are its strongest cards, so it works on the Dragon. The tight, low-speed stuff asks you to keep the revs up more than a lighter bike would.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2010–2013
The V4 With No Safety Net
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Successor · 2021–2023
The V4 That Bites Back
Competitor · 2019
Technology You Can Actually Use
Competitor · 2017
197 Horses, Zero Apologies
Competitor · 2015–2016
The Crossplane War Cry
Competitor · 2015–2017
Two Cylinders, Full Commitment
Competitor · 2015–2016
The Track Bike That Rewards Commitment
Competitor · 2012–2013
Italian V-Twin, Full Attack
Same Platform · 2015–2020
V4 Brutality, Surprisingly Livable
