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Aprilia Will Build 450 V-Twin Sportbike



Following the buyout of the Aprilia brand by the Piaggio group last year, there has been much speculation about the future of the company's model lineup. Many have wondered what Aprilia will do with the 450cc V-twin motor which they have been developing since last year in prototype supermoto and MX racers.

In an interview with British weekly MCN, new Aprilia boss Leo Mercanti (sent in by Piaggio to run their new brand) says that Aprilia will use the 450cc V-Twin in a sportbike which will replace the current RS250 two-stroke model.

The 450cc V-Twin is claimed to be nearly as light and compact as a 450cc single, and in race trim is reputed to produce nearly 70 horsepower. In a street-legal sportbike, it could produce 60 horsepower in a package that weighs around 300 pounds. Sounds like fun, right?

The real question is, will Aprilia bring it to the U.S.? In the MCN interview, Mercanti cites Europe's strong market for medium-capacity bikes as the main reason for producing the bike (which would likely be called the RS450). It remains to be seen whether Aprilia will perceive a high enough demand for this type of model in the U.S. to justify the cost of bringing it over here. If not, we may have to enlist the help of some of our European readers - anyone have any experience with grey-market importing?

Thank to Alex Edge for the rumor

Aprilia RSV 450. BEUTY!!!

Iyiiiiyiiii. Makes my back ache just looking at it.

ooh ahh, ooh ahh...

hmmm... i sort of like this idea... a 450 v-twin.. hmmm... this sounds kindof neat... kinda like the Ducati Supermono (500 single), but a little REVIIIIER maybe although the Ducky was sort of really uniquely designed single with the balance shaft where the "other half" of a v-twin wouldve been... 10000RPM+ single soooo.... oooh aaahhh... i am thinking we could have another screamer single.

i like the look too... thanks for the pic.

very good idea to replace the RS250 with a 450 four-stroke. The time has come... should be an ultra light and nimble machine if they do it all right. I think they will.

//monkey

Aprilla is running this engine in a Supermoto right now, I think they won a world championship with it this year. It appearantly kicks serious "O Ring".... makes 80+ hp easily and reliably and they have a 550 version almost ready. It will make an excellent sportbike engine at 70 pounds or so. They will most likely also put that motor into a full-on MXer..... What CRF? YZF... bah.

I read an article about that - sounds interesting. I'd bet that thing would spank almost everything else in the twisties.

They won't bring it to the states - too many crazed doofi roaming the streets in ignorant bliss drooling over 600cc butt burners.

"Wot - It's only a 450!? No I need a 600! All my friends ride 600s! If I buy a 450, then I'd look like a wimp!"

Aprilia won the Supermotard "S-2" class with the v-twin from all conquering Honda. After much belly aching from Honda saying the win was illegel, Honda decided to develope a 450 V-twin of their own. It is quite similar to the Ape-only it develops "99PS". That works out to 101HP, kids. This could get very interesting as the US market has only 600's & literbikes for sportiness. I'm all for bringing over 450's and 250's (if they got 'em!) The 550 should be just about finished with development by now.