Brock's Offers WERA Contingency & Aprilia RSV-4R versus Yamaha YZF-R1

Brock's Performance, supplier of BST carbon-fiber wheels for Japanese sportbikes in the US, is offering some US$37,200 in contingency money for the WERA series. Supported classes are WERA's National Challenge, National Endurance and the huge Sportsman series. You need to take the link to see the details as there are some important notes...

http://tinyurl.com/yfollqv

Motorcyclist has put up a comparison of two of the most praised liter-class bikes in the industry - the 2010 Aprilia RSV-4R and the Yamaha YZF-R1. Both machines (even the 'low-end' Aprilia) have some of the most advanced, race-developed technology that the sport has ever seen. Both machines are also very track-focused bikes but are also not so hard to live with on the streets. Want to know how it turned out? Take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ygqtxy2

More Morning Moto News - RSV-4 Recall, WSBK and Leon Camier

The Aprilia RSV-4 Factory is being recalled on a global basis - we already heard about the Australian and the US recall, now we get one from Great Britain. It appears that the total number of machines which this recall concerns is right around 300 bikes. Only 30 are being pulled from the U.K., and the rest are elsewhere in the world. It all goes back to that conrod failure at the RSV-4R intro. Aprilia is usually rock-solid for reliability, so this is an odd start of a new model for them...

http://tinyurl.com/ye39qrh

Over in the World Superbike paddock, there are some teams which had planned on taking another practice at Valencia after the Portimao official test. Well, the weather seems to be working against them. So far, only two riders - Haga and Fabrizio - have even ventured onto the track.

http://tinyurl.com/ydcps8a

Leon Camier is rather sure that he has a good handle on his Aprilia WSBK machine, even though he ended the Portimao test in 12th position. He says that it does not look good on paper, but that his team is making good progress. He also stated that his low lap times could be attributed to the fact that he was not after fast laps, not yet.

http://tinyurl.com/ybxfa5n

Friday Morning Moto News - Rea & Camier, New Build & Aprilia US Recall

Gino Rea, European 600cc Superstock Champion, and Leon Camier, British Superbike Champion, have taken off to Spain to do some testing - and to get away from the English winter. Both riders are getting some practice in and enjoying the warmer weather.

http://tinyurl.com/yhd6afx

Honestly, I do not know how to title this, but here is the story as I can understand it. Eighteen-year-old Ryan Mackey has built a replica/real/custom Harley-Davidson WLA and won a contest for it, or unrelated to it, and another motorcycle. He did win the AMCA Youth Program Giveaway Bike, which is an honor of some sort. Honestly, the quality of writing leaves something to be desired, but you can go and check it out for yourself.

http://tinyurl.com/ylgjb5l

The Aprilia RSV-4 (R or Factory), which we heard yesterday was recalled in Australia, is now also being recalled in the US. The article does not specify which version (another poorly written piece), but we can probably assume it was among the earlier generations, thus is likely the Factory model. Keep in mind that there have been NO reports of any failures in the field, none at all.

http://tinyurl.com/yhoyy4e

http://tinyurl.com/ykmotux

And more detail - a complete engine exchange: http://tinyurl.com/ybczceq

Thursday Morning Moto News - WSBK, YZR500 & Aprilia Recall

World Superbike will be kicking off a three-day test at Portimao this weekend in preparation for the 2010 season. Shortly after that, 21 - 22 February, will see them at Phillip Island for another practice. That will just be one week before the opening round at the same circuit. Get a summary of this after the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yg8l3hs

Shane Byrne will be there with his Althea Racing Ducati: http://tinyurl.com/yaz74xm

Alex Gobert's column on the test: http://tinyurl.com/yaop7bg

Down outside of Sydney, Australia, you can actually purchase a full-on 500c.c. GP bike replica! Mick Costain of Mico Products can make a perfect replica of a Yamaha YZR500 from any season between 1988 and 2002. It is an impressive build and will certainly turn heads anywhere you go. Even the price is not so outside the norm. There are even more replicas he produces and you should see them for yourself!

http://tinyurl.com/yflgcuv

After that horrendous debut of the Aprilia RSV-4R (the lower-spec model), where five machines suffered con-rod failures and blew up. Well, apparently, some of those improperly manufactured parts made their way into the first run of the RSV-4 Factory and they have issued a recall to save those machines - ONLY in Australia for now. Get in touch with your dealer, just in case...

http://tinyurl.com/ye4l8a4

Wonder How the Aprilia RSV-4's Pillion Seat Works?

If you actually saw the lovely 2010 Aprilia RSV-4 in person, you might have asked how the heck any passenger could ride on the thing with a tail which looks more like a genital torture device than a suitable perch. Well, the linked article will show you how it works. As you probably already know, the under-tail section on the RSV-4 does not hold very much, but the pillion seat is not as painful as it looks.

http://tinyurl.com/ya3d5hp

Jay Leno Livens Up Piaggio Group North American Dealer Meeting

That's right, Jay Leno was at the Piaggio dealer meeting this past October in Carlsbad, CA. Apparently, he kept the audience laughing while the 2010 model line was introduced. Of course, the real star of the show was the 2010 RSV-4 Factory and its little sister, the RSV-4R. Must have been a great event to attend...

http://tinyurl.com/yepq3ym

Riding Impression: 2010 Aprilia RSV-4R

Well, after receiving some sad news about the press introduction, some Aprilia RSV-4Rs have made their way to various press outlets. Finally, we get a very detailed riding impression of the new V-4 Italian beauty. It is about what you would expect - a revolution on two wheels. The R version is a step down from the Factory, but you will still have that lovely engine, the extremely stable frame, and the pure enjoyment of riding a motorcycle at the top of the charts!

http://tinyurl.com/yz48eqd

Aprilia RSV-4R Release Video

Well, they had some pre-production issues that stopped the press introduction at Mugello, but the bike will soon be on the road - and the quality is sure to be rock-solid once Aprilia officially ships it to dealers. So, if you like the Aprilia RSV-4, the RSV-4R will have everything the Factory model has minus some high-priced suspension and other items. You still get that awesome Aprilia V-4 engine!

http://tinyurl.com/yz7jjjh

2010 Aprilia RSV-4R Suffers Con Rod Failures at Mugello Press Intro

It turns out that the failures were due to a manufacturing problem with a batch of con rods. Fortunately, Aprilia has a reputation for being bomb-proof in the engine department - and the machines the press was on are pre-production models. Five of the RSV-4R bikes had the failure, though, so it cut the planned three-day press intro short.

http://tinyurl.com/ylfuprd

First Ride: 2010 Aprilia RSV-4R - The Non-Factory Model

The cool part about the 'R' model of the new Aprilia V4 superbike is that the only difference between it and the 'Factory' or race version is the suspension, wheels and some body pieces. The engine and electronics package are virtually identical! So, if you are really interested in one of these amazing machines, but you want to 'race-prep' it yourself, just buy the inexpensive model - do the rest yourself. Of course, if you were to try to turn it into the Factory model, it would cost you much more than just the MSRP difference between the two models - that Ohlins suspension is very expensive on the retail market! Anyway, have a read about the first ride of the R model on the track...

http://tinyurl.com/ylyoe34

Camier Remains in Portugal for Test on Aprilia

Now that the World Superbike season is at an end - and what an incredible season it was! - the teams are staying at Portimao to run two days of testing. After having such an incredible outing on their bike, Aprilia is keeping Leon Camier at the track for this testing. It should be a good indication that Camier will be staying with the team in 2010 - but, there is still no official confirmation from Aprilia yet...

http://tinyurl.com/ylcu2s6

2010 Aprilia RSV-4 Factory and RSV-4R on the Way to US Dealers NOW

Piaggion Group - owners of Aprilia - have now announced that the 2010 RSV-4 models (both Factory and the R model) are now being shipped to US dealers. MSRP for the USA has also been leaked; RSV-4R will retail for US$15,999 and the RSV-4 Factory will retail for US$20,999, which is not bad considering the sweet racing components attached to the Factory model...

http://tinyurl.com/yjonbec

Details of Aprilia's RSV-4R Released

It will be about £2550 less than the Factory version (at least in the UK), but still retains the incredible V-4 powerplant. The high-end Ohlins suspension, magnesium wheels, carbon fibre accents, and magnesium engine cases are all gone and the bike weighs 5kg more than the Factory version, but the look is still there and that will certainly be enough for many people!

http://tinyurl.com/ydgvrrd

Aprilia to Debut Lower-Spec RSV-4R at Imola WSBK Round

We have already seen the Aprilia RSV-4 Factory - and many have seen it in person at US and worldwide racing events (I even have photos in the public 2009 USGP photo album), but we had not seen the 'stock' version yet. Well, Aprilia will show it off at Imola this coming weekend at the World Superbike round at Imola.

http://tinyurl.com/maav3j