Aprilia

IF YOU WERE as surprised as we were that Aprilia could not only get their V4 project right first time, but then offer it to us fully laden with GP technology and exotic cycle parts for a penny shy of fifteen grand, then the launch of the more affordable ‘R’ version can only be good news.

Rob Hoyles reports back from the launch of Aprilia's RSV4-R. How does it compare to the super-trick Factory version

Few bikes have ever come as close to living up to the ‘Factory’ tag as this Noale nut-job. Expensive, hard to ride slowly, unruly on the road but totally in its element on a track – it’s just got to be the best bike of the year

After glimpses of brilliance on the bike's wet launch at Misano, Visordown has finally tested the new V4 Aprilia back-to-back with the best 1000cc sportsbike out there, Honda's CBR1000RR Fireblade

Did anyone really think Aprilia could pull off a four-stroke masterstroke and build a world-beating V-four powered superbike? I know I didn’t.

Aprilia launched the Shiver in 2008 but you probably wouldn’t have ventured to Italy on that bike, the Aprilia being the properly naked machine it is. The GT, however, has a skimpy bikini of a top fairing that changes the Shiver from a get-to-work bike into a proper tourer.