Aprilia SL750 Shiver

[James Deuce]

Filippo Brunelleschi would be quite taken with a modern Italian company like Aprilia. Brunelleschi, despite being comprised of 2 parts dolt, managed to create structures that surpassed both engineering and design capabilities of the then current expert craftsmen of the Renaissance. Despite having no understanding of Hoop Stress to begin with, Brunelleschi managed to create the largest domed structure known until that time in Europe, the Santa Maria del Fiore. From being an unremarkable Goldsmith, a loser in Bronze casting competitions, Brunelleschi took a century old design, created the structural engineering mathematical language to make it real, and made himself rich. So he built a really, really big boat with all the cash he made from the project, and literally sunk most of his fortune into it on the first voyage.

Much like Aprilia.

Take a scooter company run by petrol heads, a European culture that requires personal mobility but doesn't have the space to let everyone park a car, and you have the economic conditions necessary to create a scooter manufacturing boom that allowed Aprilia to create winning race bikes at a time when they produced no road bikes bigger than the Aprilia AF1 125cc two stroke race replica. Lovely bike, perfectly tailored to the learner laws prevalent in the EU at the time and easily capable of 30HP when unrestricted. Winning 125cc and 250cc GP bikes and lots of Chesterfield fag money and you have a nice big wad of cash for an enthusiast company.

A little too much cash.

Two stroke scooters start being banned from major conurbations, Aprilia up the 250cc GP bike to 400cc and Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams starts doing unbelievable things like pole position against the hairy Honda 500cc bikes. However Aprilia's scooter sales start to nose dive, cc rating restrictions for learners turn into certified HP limits and just as the RSV starts doing OK in WSB the switch to 990cc MotoGP eats the last of Aprilia's free money, thanks to a triple labelled the "Brick". Colin Edwards' mountain oysters being fried on the Brick, necessitating a hurried, graceless exit from a 120MPH motorcycle demonstrates Aprilia's fiery nosedive beautifully. Parts suppliers go unpaid, workers go unpaid, distributors start getting antsy about being unable to fulfill warranty and supply conditions and Ivan Beggio starts a PR campaign based on hope rather than substance.

Enter Piaggio.

Big, big company. Aprilia were always blighted by their small range of non-scooter two wheelers. A 125, a 250, both two strokes and on the verge of being eco-greeny arseholed, and fire breathing 1000cc V-Twins produced by Rotax, a company renowned for building ultra-reliable small capacity engines for ultra-light aircraft and remote controlled drones. Rotax are an Austrian company though and not given to bouts of good humour in regard to not being paid for engines supplied or development work undertaken.

Piaggio take engine development in-house and do a proper job of it.

Rotax go and sell the latest evolution of the RSV-R V-Twin to Buell who promptly make a Sportsbike with side boobs.

Piaggio are responsible for the Shiver concept in its entirety, and for that I am ever grateful. Aprilia's RSV-R and Tuono are two of my favourite bikes, but not putting too finer a point on it, I'm clever enough to know my limitations. Both bikes are far too capable, vastly, stupendously, galactically endowed with power handling and brakes, to let me keep either my license or my sanity for long. You HAVE to ride them like you stole them or they make no sense at all.

The Shiver features an engine forged from within the clinically exact ennvirons of Piaggio's engine shop. 94HP, from a 750cc twin, 20HP up on an SV650, and only half a dozen shy of a Z750. A modern new-fangled fly by wire throttle which feels like it is connected to your emotions rather than your wrist. If you are at all uncommitted to your next course of action it will mess you around in return. Direct proceedings with aplomb and verve and your reward is a very floaty front-end (I bet Brunelleschi would have liked one of those) when on the throttle, but one that tracks true irrespective of the worst that Wainuiomata's Coast Rd can dish up, and provides a full measure of comfort while doing so.

The front brakes are that modern revelation, the radial mounted Brembo. Lots of bite from the get go and at speed can prevent death by mid-road carpet and underlay without raising any fuss at all.

How did they do it? It looks like it could only be regarded as a budget bike, indeed it competes with the Street Triple, the new Z750, the Bandit 650, the ER-6N, the SV650, all, except notably the Street Triple, shouldered with compromise in areas like suspension or finish.

And yet it's frame looks like it was an Origami sculpture, tempered by referencing Renaissance classical architects, lovingly crafted to blend with a look that extends to the shape of the radiator, the seat unit, the bungy hooks, and the footpeg mounts. The Sachs rear shock, the factory upside down forks, the powerful front brakes and beautifully crafted, gold painted chassis all combine to give you a magic carpet ride that is compliant, well damped (but slightly undersprung for someone with my ebullient attitude to comestibles and alcohol), and has you performing at your very best routinely ignoring things like braking for corners, and riding "sensibly".

It's like someone at Aprilia opened up my head and looked in there and dragged out what I thought would be the best combination of price, performance, handling, ergonomics and power delivery.

It's tiny, sexy, angularly beautiful in an idiot savant with a big Meccano set way, and every bit the competitor for the Street Triple.

Some commentators bemoan the loss of personalities like Sig. Beggio from the Italian motorcycle scene. Tough. If the Shiver is a hint of things to come, then Triumph have a fight on their hands and the Japanese just got their Sushied buttocks handed to them in a little clear plastic takeaway pack.

Some people look at the Shiver and proclaim it brutto. Look closer and it proclaims pride and attention to detail in a way that Triumph is yet to match, but above all it shouts classy Italian bike.

[jrandom]

Lovely writeup, Jim. Makes for a fascinating read.

What are these things retailing for? I heard around the NZ$20K mark.

[James Deuce]

$16,995.

$16,995.

$16,995.

Make it stop....

Thanks once again to the guys at TSS for letting me take a near virginal demo out for a ride.

Fergus knows how to pimp too.

[RantyDave]

indeed it competes with the Street Triple
With the notable difference that Wellingtonians don't have to buy it from Motorad. I take it TSS have a demonstrator?

Dave

[James Deuce]

Oh yes. Oh yes indeed.

[jrandom]

$16,995.

$16,995.

$16,995.

Oh my!

That is very competitive pricing. If the bike does indeed handle as well as you describe and the engine has enough pull to wean away the occasional rider who'd otherwise be purchasing a 600, this Aprilia will sell very well indeed.

It'd almost be enough to make me set aside my anti-Aprilia snobbery. Their first bike since the 250 that actually has a flavour of its own. (The RSV-R, in my opinion, has always been a competent but yawn-inducing bitsa-bike.)

And all for only $3K more than Betty.

Then again, one could probably step one's way all the way from Betty to an F4 312R using that logic.

Sigh.

[disenfranchised]

Very interesting write up..


If the Shiver is a hint of things to come, then Triumph have a fight on their hands and the Japanese just got their Sushied buttocks handed to them in a little clear plastic takeaway pack.

There's a comparitive review of the Shiver, the Street Triple and the Honda Hornet 600 in Novembers Superbike mag.
They didn't seem to appreciate it the same way you did, mostly because of the throttle.
Did you notice the difference with it?

Here's the last couple of pages of the review attached.

[James Deuce]

You have to remember with bike mags that it's what they do for a job. I actually like bikes. TO them it's just another gutless girl's bike with no fairing.

The throttle didn't bother me at all. Another well known Wellington personality with a penchant for good handling bikes warned me about it, but after one slightly fluffly launch the light bulb went on and I just told the Shiver I was boss, stop being wussy. I think the bike mags nit pick just a little too much.

The only way Honda could make the Hornet interesting was to give it to Italians to design and build. So really the battle in the mid-field is Italy vs Britain.

[jrandom]

You have to remember with bike mags that it's what they do for a job. I actually like bikes.

Yes.

Anyone who reviews a bike and writes that the engine's power delivery is "so fluid it defies the laws of mechanics" is, frankly, a blithering idiot.

[DingoZ]

Excellent write up again Jim....

Must admit I saw one of these the other day heading over the Wainui Hill (was that you) and I had to do a quick double take, as I couldn't work out what it was. Thanks for clearing up what it is. Definetly has some different but not altogether unappealing lines to it....:)

[Fatjim]

Good write up mate. But you lost all credence when you put both inch wide chicken strips and a view from the top of the Wainui hill in the same photo!

You might as well ride a goldwing!




p/t

[El Dopa]

Gave one the once-over when I was at Mt Eden yesterday. Personally, I love the styling.

Funny you should mention it as a competitor to the ER-6, which is what I was test-riding at the time. I would have thought the ER-6 was a lot more 'budget' specced than the Shiver. However, for the same money, you could fruit out an ER-6 with more or less anything you could think of, and turn it into a nasty little weapon.

[James Deuce]

To get the horsepower of the Shiver out of an Er-6 you'd be spending a LOT of money. That extra 150cc is a big mountain for the ER-6 to overcome.

[limbimtimwim]

I knew that bike would be good.

I could smell it.

[Kendog]

Great write up Jim.
Enjoyed riding out there with you, an interesting road for sure. Sorry about missing lunch with ya, I was struggling to think about eating while riding a 'big' Suzuki (more about that soon)

The photos are great as well, you cropped them just as you said you would ;) Mrs Kendog is happy.

[James Deuce]

Dude, the Motard version will suit you right down to the bottom of your little Unicorn powered feet.

[Hitcher]

Mrs H has a birthday coming up soon...

[James Deuce]

She may need to grow. The seat is a long way off the ground.

[99TLS]

thats a nice loking machine indeed , looks like a fun ride,:wari:

[madmal64]

One of the best write ups I have read for a long long time! Well done that man
Looking forward to seeing the Tard 750! But from your write I will have to sort a ride on this wee thing with Fergus. Im up for a new bike at some stage this year and am definelty looking for another V Twin and preferably an Aprilia.
I was thinking Tuono or RSV with maybe a KTM Super Duke but I have heard lots of good things about these beauties.
Thanks for getting the appetite for looking around back up there Jim

[limbimtimwim]

Dude, the Motard version will suit you right down to the bottom of your little Unicorn powered feet.http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1294526846&channel=711881422

Interesting, a different swingarm by the looks of things. Like off the SXV.

[Kendog]

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1294526846&channel=711881422

Interesting, a different swingarm by the looks of things. Like off the SXV.

Bahh, I thought you had put up some Unicorn Porn.

On a serious note, could see you riding one of these.

[McJim]

Well what a lot of Florentine history just to hype a bike.

Good write up for all that. A bike I would consider probably at some point but when it's second hand and affordable.

I like bikes where the seat is too hight - they're almost comfortable. I considered a Mionster at one point or a cagiva raptor but they just hurt my knees after an hour or so (I was too folded up).

I'm more than happy with my air cooled 53hp effort at the moment though.

[El Dopa]

To get the horsepower of the Shiver out of an Er-6 you'd be spending a LOT of money. That extra 150cc is a big mountain for the ER-6 to overcome.

Well, yes. But I wasn't talking about just the HP and all that goes with it.

Upgraded suspension/brakes, crash bungs/engine armour, various aftermarket plastic bits (seat cowls, etc), race zorst, etc. And a bucket of change left over from 17K, if your starting point is an ER6 or an SV650.

I was more commenting because you were talking about the ER6 and the SV650 in the same breath as the Shiver and the Street Triple. I'd have put them on different playing fields.

[James Deuce]

Mid-range twin cylinder bikes aren't they? The Shiver is good enough that if you rode an SV650 and Shiver back to back, you'd immediately go and get a couple of extra jobs to make up the difference.

[El Dopa]

Well, ye-e-eesss. But also, no.

I'm tending to divide bikes roughly by cost, probably because I'm looking at upgrading, and the circle of what I want is not quite squared with what I can afford.

So, stepping up from the 250/400 second-hand league, I have two cost choices - budget bikes around the $10K mark new (ER6, SV650), and the next quantum level which starts at around $15K new (street triple), and then goes to all points up (Shiver - 17K).

I'm not particularly interested in in-line 600's, so they're not on my cost radar.

[jrandom]

I'm not particularly interested in in-line 600's, so they're not on my cost radar.

Yeah, that's the thing. What's a new GSX-R600, $14K? And it'll easily outperform anything mentioned in this thread so far in terms of power or handling.

But it's boring and uncomfortable.

I think I'll take a Shiver for a ride sometime soon...

[limbimtimwim]

But it's boring and uncomfortable.Not everyone finds them uncomfortable.

[xwhatsit]

Not everyone finds them uncomfortable.

No, but they remain boring :innocent:

I'll go back and hide in Club 250 now :shutup:

[SVboy]

Yeah, that's the thing. What's a new GSX-R600, $14K? And it'll easily outperform anything mentioned in this thread so far in terms of power or handling.

But it's boring and uncomfortable.

I think I'll take a Shiver for a ride sometime soon...

Boring and uncomfortable!!! You nasty man you!! Shame! I find my K7 600 VERY comfortable, esp for a sportsbike-tourings not an issue, and when I find that high revs power hit "boring", well, it will be time to check for a pulse!

[jrandom]

Boring and uncomfortable!!! You nasty man you!! Shame! I find my K7 600 VERY comfortable, esp for a sportsbike-tourings not an issue, and when I find that high revs power hit "boring", well, it will be time to check for a pulse!

Uncomfortable for me. If GSX-Rs fit you, great.

Boredom kicks in for me on a focused sprotbike when I'm doing anything but thrashing it on a track or a very limited set of roads around the countryside, and frankly, that's only about 10% of the miles I cover.

Personally, I'm simply not prepared to endure the inconvenience of riding one around town and up and down open highways just for the thrill of having a performance edge in certain circumstances.

Not to mention the fact that I'd go nuts trying to keep it reasonably close to speed limits, and my licence is already on 90 points.

:crazy:

[James Deuce]

That's where bikes like the Shiver excel, and you'd LOVE the seat/footpeg relationship. You can just ride around and it demands nothing of you. If you want to crack on it is perfectly capable, much the same way I imagine a Street Triple is capable, of keeping up with bigger and flasher tackle. Bit like a GSX1400, but without the tyre melting torque :)

[Devil]

Love the look of the Shiver. Gimme a Shiver or a Street Triple anyday.
I've already spent my money however on a different toy so no brand new bike for me.

Still have dreams about the Street Triples power delivery. Yum.
From 2000rpm to 14,000rpm It's just sweeeeeeeeeeeet.

[jrandom]

Bit like a GSX1400, but without the tyre melting torque :)

The Shiver is probably just as fast or faster, too. The GSX1400's quarter-ton of lard and relatively anaemic top-end power (98bhp at the wheel) would probably hold it back in any direct comparison of speed or handling.

That doesn't matter on the road, of course; it still has enough torque and handling to be ridden right up to the limits of what can be done outside of a racetrack. I expect that you'd be putting down faster lap times on a Shiver than on Betty once you got going at a trackday, though.

But all of that ignores one of my main reasons for having the 1400 - pillion comfort. The Shiver's pillion seat looks like a bit of an afterthought in the photos. Any comments to make after seeing it in the flesh?

[James Deuce]

Sorry, I NEVER look at a bike's pillion capabilities. I always check out the rear seat to see if the bra for my Ventura seatpack will fit :).

[jrandom]

Sorry, I NEVER look at a bike's pillion capabilities.

Ah, righto.

Yes, I find two-up touring at moderate to brisk pace through the countryside to be one of motorcycling's greatest pleasures, and a good way of doing something nice for the missus - there's a lot to be said for just relaxing and enjoying the time on two wheels, being able to gaze out at the view in any direction instead of focusing on the bike's line into the next corner, etc.

So I tend to assess bikes based on their suitability for such riding.

[flyen]

Got to love the naked Aprilias :hug::hug:, I'm not one eyed just love the one I live with, good to know it's only slightly smaller sister is a good little Italian as well.
Nice write up.

[SVboy]

Uncomfortable for me. If GSX-Rs fit you, great.

Boredom kicks in for me on a focused sprotbike when I'm doing anything but thrashing it on a track or a very limited set of roads around the countryside, and frankly, that's only about 10% of the miles I cover.

Personally, I'm simply not prepared to endure the inconvenience of riding one around town and up and down open highways just for the thrill of having a performance edge in certain circumstances.

Not to mention the fact that I'd go nuts trying to keep it reasonably close to speed limits, and my licence is already on 90 points.

:crazy:
I am certainly with you on that last point!!! I guess because I am a relative newbie, I may have some growing up to do. I could see the Aprilia being a good place to be when I get to that stage of riding maturity!

[jimbo]

Excellent write up Jim,you didnt mention the very sexy induction growl:woohoo:Oh ,did I mention the induction growl?:shifty::shifty:

[2_SL0]

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1294526846&channel=711881422

Interesting, a different swingarm by the looks of things. Like off the SXV.

Hmmmmm this could well be just the bike I am looking for. When are they due?

http://www.aprilia.com/smv750dorsoduro.asp?lin2=eng

[MD]

$16,995.

$16,995.

$16,995.

Make it stop....

Thanks once again to the guys at TSS for letting me take a near virginal demo out for a ride.



Jim, you should pop back in to TSS soon! They're on special at $14,995
That puts it squarely in the competitive price range now.

I rode the Shiver when I had my F800S, and although I personally preferred the 800, the Shiver was impressive and bloody comfortable. It had the best seat-bars -pegs position I've found on a naked bike. I didn't think the wire-throttle worked well, easily stalled and slow response. But that's the sort of thing a day or two living with the bike and it would become second nature.

If you were looking at the Street triple, SV650, ER6 type naked bikes the Shiver has just become the best choice. The BMW is overpriced, so that will keep it off most peoples list- why haven't BMW figured this out. The fools.

The Street III footpegs are too high/sporty, which is forcing your lower body to be in a racer's crouch, while the seat to bars is trying to put you into a comfy upright position - the two don't mix.

Anyone looking at a well priced, well spec'd mid sized bike with style and some classy features should check the Shiver out. Before Jim2 reads this.

[RantyDave]

If you were looking at the Street triple, SV650, ER6 type naked bikes the Shiver has just become the best choice.
The ER6 is massively cheaper than the Street and Shiver. Like, $5k cheaper.

Dave

[marty]

Good write up mate. But you lost all credence when you put both inch wide chicken strips and a view from the top of the Wainui hill in the same photo!

You might as well ride a goldwing!




p/t

were they as big as THESE ones?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-158880103.htm

and i saw you were snooping jR :)

[limbimtimwim]

were they as big as THESE ones? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-158880103.htmD'oh! No point in putting those tyres on if you can't ride it! Not a bad deal though.....

HMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......... Oh no wait, it's a single seater.

[MD]

The ER6 is massively cheaper than the Street and Shiver. Like, $5k cheaper.

Dave

That cheap? OK, the Kwak is the cheaper bike.

[limbimtimwim]

but one that tracks true irrespective of the worst that Wainuiomata's Coast Rd can dish up, and provides a full measure of comfort while doing so.I agree with everything but this. I rode one today. I had enjoyed the ride to the Wainui hill, but going up there at an almost licence suspending speed (Or maybe beyond, wasn't looking too close at that) I had the Shiver all tied in knots. It got upset badly by mid corner bumps. So after that big let down I turned it around and went back, figuring I'd get a fright on the coast road. I baited a WRX up the wainui side of hill but I didn't have the confidence in the bike to even try and keep up with it down the other side.

But it is better than what Suzuki threw on the SV650.

It made me realise how incredibly well the RSV-R I rode on Monday had coped. And it was damp.

I was smiling A LOT when took it back, and maybe that is what matters.

[idleidolidyll]

i liked the shiver; it was a wild thing

the power band was too narrow for me though

it'd be a step back from the 950sm; same weight, similar horsepower way less torque spread

great price though

[sinned]

I was told when in TSS last Saturday that I didn't need the 1000cc of a speed triple and the Shiver was the bike for me. Very nice bike and great name but I will stay with the SpeedyT. The option of switching to a low power map sounds like a good feature - the S3 could do with that for city riding. It could be called the anti-wheely feature.

[James Deuce]

I agree with everything but this. I rode one today. I had enjoyed the ride to the Wainui hill, but going up there at an almost licence suspending speed (Or maybe beyond, wasn't looking too close at that) I had the Shiver all tied in knots. It got upset badly by mid corner bumps. So after that big let down I turned it around and went back, figuring I'd get a fright on the coast road. I baited a WRX up the wainui side of hill but I didn't have the confidence in the bike to even try and keep up with it down the other side.

But it is better than what Suzuki threw on the SV650.

It made me realise how incredibly well the RSV-R I rode on Monday had coped. And it was damp.

I was smiling A LOT when took it back, and maybe that is what matters.

I think someone needs to learn some finesse.

The RSV-R didn't work for me under 160 km/hr.

Couldn't own one as a road bike because I'd die in a fiery Police chase.

[limbimtimwim]

I think someone needs to learn some finesse.Yeah. The DR-Z could get a wobble on if one hit a dip or bump mid corner, but it was so light it wasn't an issue. And yeah, I learnt how to mitigate it. 'Finesse it' even. My point was, to ride it enjoyable quick it felt too much like hard work.
The RSV-R didn't work for me under 160 km/hr. Couldn't own one as a road bike because I'd die in a fiery Police chase.I thought it did fun wheelies. I felt like a hero every time the front came up. So easy and so gentle about it. I don't normally have the stomach for it, but the RSV begged for it. Good times.

[SPman]

I felt like a hero every time the front came up. So easy and so gentle about it. I don't normally have the stomach for it, but the RSV begged for it. Good times.
The Falco I rode was like that - luverly

[James Deuce]

I thought it did fun wheelies. I felt like a hero every time the front came up. So easy and so gentle about it. I don't normally have the stomach for it, but the RSV begged for it. Good times.

When I looked at the top speed on the MFD I took the RSV back to the shop. I'd had it two days of a week long loan. When you are wheelying on the exit of downhill corners a hospital pass is hours away.

[limbimtimwim]

I'm looking forward to the Dorsoduro though. That should be just right.