2021 Aprilia RSV4 Factory and RSV4 First Ride

Both the 2021 Aprilia RSV4 and RSV4 Factory get new aero, more cc’s, and improved electronics. Don Canet heads to Laguna Seca to see if they’re any good. Aprilia’s RSV4 superbike has enjoyed a decade of solid racing and sales success. Throughout this time the Noale, Italy-based manufacturer has offered a price-competitive base model alongside the up-spec version. The premium RSV4 Factory and RF models have traditionally been equipped with race-grade Öhlins suspension, lighter-weight forged alloy wheels, and various carbon fiber bits. The Factory models have typically been a year or two ahead of the base RSV4 in receiving significant electronic or performance upgrades derived from the Aprilia Race Department, and that’s made them all the more enticing. For 2021, the RSV4 1100 and RSV4 1100 Factory are equal recipients of an evolutionary platform update, which features an all new race-developed aerodynamic styling treatment; a larger-displacement 1,099cc engine; a new inverted-style swingarm; an improved Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC) electronic rider aid package; and a larger 5-inch TFT dash. The $25,999 Factory may still have a leg to stand on with its semi-active Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 electronically adjustable suspension, forged wheels, Öhlins electronic adjustable steering damper, and choice of two Factory edition paint schemes, but fans of carbon fiber will now need to tap into Aprilia’s line of accessories. At $18,999, the RSV4 1100 retains the Sachs suspension...