Aprilia shows off its 'Twins'

By JIM DUNCAN

Aprilia pulled out all the stops at the 2002 Sydney Motor Show: Awesome exhibits, impressive new product and booth babes who were more than happy to talk all day about the bikes.

It was like a different world...

While the Aprilia ladeez were a highlight, it was Aprilia's high-spec Tuono Fighter that shone brightest from the Italian exhibit.

The Tuono Fighter fills an important place in Aprilia’s 2003 model line-up, taking up the position as the tough-as-nails street fighter to take on the popular Ducati Monster.

“The Tuono Fighter is a high performance motorcycle offering racing-derived rider dynamics and a level of comfort and control to more than match its street-wise styling,” said David O’Reilly, national manager of John Sample Automotive, Australian distributor of Aprilia.

“The Fighter has a presence and a level of sophistication that I’m sure will strike a chord with the Australian market.”

And he's not far wrong - assuming Australian motorcylists appreciate premium brakes, suspension and engine tuning. Based on the successful Aprilia ‘Mille’ RSV1000 sports bike, the Tuono Fighter produces 123bhp at the crank and features high-specification suspension and brakes.

Its highly engineered race-bred frame and swing-arm have been anodised in a striking bronze-titanium colour. Mounted on extruded risers, the relatively high and wide adjustable handlebars allow riders of different styles and statures to tailor the riding position to their needs.

Aprilia engineers have given the Fighter’s 998cc, 60-degree V-twin powerplant a character of its own by focusing on mid-range performance (ideal for wheelstands), while maintaining a smooth power delivery throughout the rev-range. The Mille RSV however, offers more top-end peak power, largely for flat out top speeds.

The engine combines specially designed intake manifolds and specific EPROM injection mapping to optimise the Fighter’s performance in a variety of riding situations.

The bike employs the same suspension as the RSV1000 ‘Mille’ - fully adjustable 43mm Showa upside-down forks and an integrated Boge ‘piggyback’ rear shock featuring a new linkage ratio for more effective damping action on the road and on the track.

The Aprilia hyper streetfighter is stopped by four-piston Brembo Gold front calipers with braided lines and dual 320mm floating stainless discs, and a twin-piston Brembo Gold rear caliper grabbing a 220mm stainless steel rotor.

The Aprilia Tuono Fighter will also be available with a range of accessories in addition to a dedicated line of clothing. The Aprilia Tuono is available in Magnet Grey and Red, and will go on sale in December for $21,990 plus on-road-costs.

Furthermore, Aprilia has unveiled the much-updated 2003 RSV1000R sports bike at the Sydney Motor Show too.

The revamped Aprilia RSV1000R, developed in parallel with Noriyuki Haga’s Play Station-FGF Aprilia RSV1000 world superbike, features a number of exclusive new components.

The 2003 RSV1000R is the first production bike ever to be fitted with GP-derived radial brake calipers, to significantly improve braking performance both off and on the track.

It also features a new close-ratio gearbox, the lightest alloy wheels in its class, aerodynamic changes and updated front and rear suspension components.

“The 2003 Aprilia RSV1000R has set the benchmark in combining the latest race-bred technology, the best available componentry and exceptional engineering and build quality in one complete package,” said David O’Reilly, national manager of John Sample Automotive, Australian distributors of Aprilia.

“Aprilia’s adoption of radial brakes is a great advance in addition to the new lightweight OZ wheels that are 25 percent lighter than cast aluminium alloy wheels.”

Fixed at both ends to the forged aluminium monolithic mounting blocks, the radial calipers’ superior rigidity virtually eliminates free lever movement, allowing the sintered brake pads to work in more precise alignment with the disc rotor.

Developed by Aprilia in partnership with Brembo, the RSV1000R’s radial mounted brakes also promote more consistent and therefore longer pad wear, and less performance variance with hot and cold brake disc temperatures.

The all-new anodized OZ front wheel has been developed from Formula One technology.

It is made from 6061 Anticorodal Aluminium and forged in an 8000 tonne hydraulic press.

Aprilia has also homologated an optional 5.5-inch rear wheel for the 2003 RSV1000R, but the 6.0-inch remains standard.

The all-new 43mm Ohlins Racing titanium nitride coated upside-down forks have been totally re-designed mechanically and hydraulically to complement the new radial brake system.

The forks feature 15mm longer stanchions and shorter inner legs to reduce the load on the sliding bushings and the inner-to-stanchion fixing mechanism.

The Aprilia RSV1000R’s aerodynamic profile, slimmed dramatically on the 2002 model, has been further improved thanks to a new slimmer tail section and front mudguard that ensures smoother air-flow around the fork stanchions to the radiator.

Aprilia RSV1000R accessories include an Ergal nut and bolt kit, stick-on tank protector kit, bike cover and racing exhausts.

The 2003 Aprilia RSV1000R is available from December at $31,440 plus on-road-costs.

For information on all Aprilia models, log onto: www.aprilia.com.au