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 2005 Aprilia NeraTippy and Toeing by Mike Emery ~ Point and Shooting by Robert Pandya
| Last year, Aprilia introduced the "Dream Series" of their RSV-1000R Factory. The problem was, that just like a Turbo Porsche, a 40ft sport yacht and a house in Miami, it was a little out of my reach. Having a champagne taste with a beer budget, it didn't hurt me too much to admire the bike from afar. Hey, with the bespoke tailored Dainese matching leathers, gloves and helmet, combined with dreaming about the included trip to the Noale factory, this Nera helped keep me warm on many a cold night. |
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One of the first recipients of these limited edition bikes was none other than Friends star, Matt LeBlanc. I was only envying the TV star, for six months or so before personally winning the lotto and getting my call from Aprilia's cowboy hat wearing press guy, Roberto Pandya. After assuring him that I would be on my best behavior, with no inappropriate fondling of air stewardesses (or Aprilia staff), I was soon whisked to the heart of Texas for a ride on the bike. |
| The venue was a very nice and unknown (to me) facility, described as a country club for motorsports fans. Motorsports Ranch is a rather tricky 1.7 mile, and 40 foot wide piece of asphalt running in and out of a valley about half an hour outside of Fort Worth, Texas. I was a little nervous on the onset especially after being told by every single person familiar with the place that it was a "little slippery" and again confirmed by none other that fast local guy, MotoGP'er, Mike Hale. “It's a little green in the morning, so don't be in too much of a hurry with the throttle,” he offered. |
Mike Hale in Action
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Err, Mike Hale in Action
(I swear, I never touched him) |
After spending a very entertaining day flat tracking at the Hale Ranch, with Messrs. Hale and Pandya, I was quite sure I'd got all my crashing out of my system. Running around on a TTR125 soon got me back to the delights of managing traction control with my right wrist, and in particular, running in close proximity of other daft gits. I can't even begin to describe the antics there and consequently a hot mini is currently planned (well, I can afford one of those). |
On arrival at the Motorsports Ranch, I was greeted by row upon row of shiny stock Aprilia RSV-R's, Tuono's and assorted Aprilia equipment. Over to one side, on tire warmers, and rather standoffishly was the Nera, I sidled over and ran my fingers over the exquisite carbon fiber clad special. This bike is dripping in unobtainium. It's attire from fairing to fenders, seat unit to tank and fenders are all beautifully laid Carbon fiber. To say this bike was special is like saying Courteney Cox is a little mumsy. It's more than special my two-wheel-freaks, and sorry Courteney, very shaggable to boot.
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The spec list on this bike reads like a thoroughbred racer, Carbon Fiber, Titanium and magnesium litter the chassis. Ohlins suspension is featured front and rear, with nitrided 43mm forks up front and the piggy-back racing 3-way adjustable rear. Brembo brakes, radial fronts, top and bottom of course, and a two-piston rear, takes care of the stopping duties. The wheels, oh the wheels - OZ, very light, equally as desirable and forged magnesium in construction. This thing didn't need riding, it needed to be hung up in my living room as a testament to art for arts sake. At a little over 385lbs dry, it would only take a few of my mates to hang it there too. |
| Closer inspection revealed a tricky Ohlin's steering damper tucked away under the front clocks, braided steel brake lines and a full Ti Evoluzione Akrapovic twin exhaust system. All of the nuts and bolts attached to the aforementioned wheels and brakes were titanium - trick, trick and tricker still. All this added up to a 10kg weight loss over the RSV-R Factory that I'd previously ridden. Oh, and with a lot of that weight unsprung, this thing, like me, should be a wheelieing fool too.... OK, I'm ready to ride. |
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Being the chicken poop I am, I go out in the initial sessions on the fast and nekked' Tuono. Now I'm a big fan of this bike, especially after a very spirited ride at Lagunapalooza last year, an annual Aprilia reunion for industry boys heading up to Monterey for racing festivities. This bike doesn't do anything wrong, is rock solid in handling, and with its heads up sitting position offers some short cuts to learning a new track. I had to stop myself from riding this thing all day (it was a close call) I've not had this much fun on a naked bike since my last stint naked or on a Supermoto (not both). I found my Kung Fu on this bike too and even managed to pass some regulars. |
| Now it was Nera time - could this bike match the fun factor of the Tuono? Absolutely, everything that I liked about the "stock" RSV-R Factory held true for this bike, and some. The steering is remarkably light and I found myself getting faster and faster within the session. My initial feeling was of an improved midrange hit than the stocker, probably due to the lighter wheels spinning up to speed quicker. Wheelies were a minor dip of the throttle away, amazingly better that even a wheelie-prone and daft as a brush Tuono. |
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Those light-footed manners came in handy for other handling related issues, not just trick and stunt. The bike managed mid corner corrections with aplomb, my minimal track experience saw me missing my marks in a couple of places, especially amongst traffic, and I found that I could pretty much put the bike where necessary without making me look like a ham-fisted part timer (of which I am). I also didn't drag any hardware, a problem at the RSV-R intro with the side stand dragging a bunch. I just checked the action shots, it's still there, so it's either redesigned or the suspension is just set up a little better. |
| So is it worth the money? Well that depends - if I had it I would spend it (and I have in the past). I’m a huge fan of the Aprilia range due to it Japanese-like gas and go qualities. Imagine all that reliability combined with the style and soul of your typical Italian gem? Welcome to Aprilia world, there’s absolutely no compromise in performance and handling and it looks bloody beautiful, to boot.
OK, so you won’t get custom leathers, boots, helmets and smoozing trips, all you’ll get is just the bike in all its carbon fibered glory. It's also cheaper, lighter and arguably more reliable that a Ducati 999R, and it's also bum and bike night friendly.
I'll take it... |
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A huge thankyou to EuroSport Cycle for allowing us to gatecrash their trackday at the Motorsports Ranch ~
  
  
SPECIFICATIONS
| Engine |
997.62 cc - Four-stroke longitudinal 60° V-twin with anti vibration double camshaft (Patent AVDC) liquid cooled with three-way pressurized circuit. |
| Bore and stroke |
97 x 67.5 mm |
| Compression ratio |
11.8:1 |
| BHP |
Maximum power at crank 141.4 hp (104 kW) at 10000 rpm |
| Torque |
Maximum torque at crank 10.9 kgm (107 Nm) at 7750 rpm |
| Fuel system |
Integrated electronic engine management system. Indirect multipoint electronic injection with twin throttle 57mm bodies |
| Ignition |
Digital electronic ignition, with one spark plug per cylinder and integrated injection. |
| Lubrication |
Dry sump with separate oil tank with double trochoidal pump with two oil cooling radiators. |
| Final drive |
Chain ~ Ratio: 40/16 (2.5) |
| Overall length: |
2035 mm |
| Overall width: |
730 mm (at handlebars) |
| Overall height: |
1145 mm (at windscreen) |
| Saddle height: |
810 mm |
| Wheelbase |
1418 mm |
| Trail |
101.7 mm |
| Steering angle |
24.80° |
| Suspension FR/R |
Öhlins titanium nitride coated 43 mm upside-down fork; 120 mm wheel travel. Öhlins Racing hydraulic shock absorber (aluminium body) with piggy-back cylinder and adjustable rebound, compression, preload and length. |
| Brakes FR/R |
Brembo double 320 mm floating stainless steel disc. Radial callipers with four 34 mm diameter pistons and 4 sintered pads.
Rear brake Brembo 220 mm stainless steel disc.
Two-piston (32 mm diameter) calliper |
| Wheels/Tires |
Front: 3.50 X 17"front: 120/70 ZR 17 Rear: 6.00 X 17"rear: 180/55 ZR 17 |
| Tank Capacity |
Carbon fibre 18 litre capacity (including 4 litre reserve) |
| Weight: |
Dry weight 175 kg |
| Price: |
$27,999 |
Article Courtesy Of
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