Racers and super-keen trackdayers
can improve brake fade performance
with Aprilia’s accessory carbon-fibre
air ducts as seen on the RS-GP
CHASSIS
There’s a new chassis hidden underneath the
winglet-ised bodywork. As with previous RSV4
models, the 2019 Factory keeps the adjustable
head angle, engine height and swingarm
height, but it’s a new chassis that’s had a fair
amount of tweaks. The upper steering head
offset adjustment has increased from 1.5mm
to 3mm, there are rubberised noise baffles
in the frame and the swingarm is stiffer in
yaw and torsion – to give better precision
accelerating out of corners. Fork triple-clamp
offset has reduced 2mm giving a 4mm shorter
wheelbase, and the bike is now rocking
Brembo’s latest Stylema M50 brakes, which
saves a little weight.
Brembo Stylema monobloc front calipers
replace the ‘old’ M50 brakes offering a slight
weight reduction and are more efficient – only
improving on the already stellar M50. Racers
44 KIWI RIDER
and super-keen trackdayers can improve fade
performance with Aprilia’s accessory carbon-
fibre air ducts as seen on their RS-GP machine.
Overall weight with a full tank of fuel is now
just under 200kg, at 199kg, thanks to the use
of the titanium muffler and a Bosch lithium-ion
battery.
Ohlins’ signature gold-coloured suspension
adorns either end of the Factory, with NIX30
(30mm damper) 43mm forks at the front and
a TTX30 spring/damper unit at the rear. Both
the front and rear suspension have more
travel, increasing by 5mm up to 125mm at the
front and 10mm up to 130mm at the back. On
standard suspension settings the bike works
well, but I found it needed a lot of muscle to
turn it at high-speed (particularly into the fast
Hayshed right-hander).