Exclusive SBK Special Edition 2013 Aprilia RSV4 Factory Announced for North America

Aprilia is producing a special edition RSV4 for the U.S. and Canada to celebrate Max Biaggi‘s World Superbike Championship-winning 2012 season. The special edition model will only be available in North America, though we’d prefer if Piaggio could come up with a less awkward name than the 2013 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC ABS SBK SE.

If you can get over its cumbersome name, the special edition receives the same updates as the 2013 Aprilia RSV4 Factory offered elsewhere around the world announced at Intermot. That includes the addition of a three-mode Bosch ABS and an upgraded engine that now claims 181.5 hp and 86.3 ft-lb. at the crank (compared to 177 hp and 84.8 ft-lb. on the 2012 model).

The 2013 version also has a revised fuel tank derived from Aprilia‘s WSBK program that now offers a capacity of 4.8 gallons compared to 4.5 gallons on the previous version. Bearing the Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC) designation, the special edition RSV4 also gets three selectable engine maps, traction control, wheelie control, launch control and a quickshifter.

The special edition version adds the red, white and green Italian tricolor fairings of Biaggi’s WSBK racer, though the belly pan is Aprilia red instead colors of the race team’s sponsor, Italian energy company Eni. The SE’s belly is red and includes the words “Aprilia Racing” instead of black with “Aprilia Factory” on international versions. The Eni logo does appear on the SE model,with a small decal on the swingarm, just like on the non-SE version, but the SE also bears a 2012 SBK World Champion decal on the side fairing.

Pricing and availability will be announced on Feb. 1.

[Source: Piaggio]

By Dennis Chung