BikeTest - Aprilia SL 750 Shiver: Conor Twomeycouldn't resist the offer of testing the Aprilia Shiver, and judged it a thing of beauty and powerful too
I know I've been riding a lot of Aprilias of late, and I promise this is my last one for a while, but when Motorpoint called up and offered me a few days on the new SL 750 Shiver I was powerless to refuse. The Shiver is a brand-new naked streetfighter along the lines of my beloved Tuono but smaller, nimbler and considerably cheaper.
It's the first bike Aprilia has designed and built entirely from scratch in some time and is pretty much brand-new from end-to-end. It also represents the next phase in Aprilia's technological development, as well as an evolution in style and design, which is why I was so interested in riding it.
The engine, for example, is a spanking new 90-degree V-twin designed and manufactured entirely by Aprilia. The liquid cooled, twin-cam (mixed gear/chain drive), four-valve 750 produces a healthy 95hp at 9,000 rpm and 81Nm at 7,000 rpm and is controlled by a revolutionary "Ride by Wire" engine management system, which Aprilia says ensures "optimal fuelling for any given riding situation and style".
It also means the engine mapping is programmable, although you'll have to plug it into the dealer's diagnostics machine if you want to tweak throttle response and power delivery. What's particularly exciting about "Ride by Wire" is that it paves the way for motorbikes to be revolutionised to an extent never seen before.
Aprilia's next bike, the Mana, will have three different self-explanatory engine modes entitled Rain, Sport and Touring and a clutchless, finger-operated gearbox. Traction and stability control can't be too far down the road after that.
In the Shiver, the electronic injection control means clean, efficient running, and long 20,000km service intervals (provided your filters are clean).
The new engine also forms part of the bike's chassis structure, which helps to lower weight and sharpen the bike's responses.
The frame to which the engine is bolted is a complicated affair comprising cast aluminium spars at the rear, bolted to a front section composed of a tubular steel trellis not dissimilar to that found on the Ducati Monster.
If it sounds like a bit of a mess then trust me, it isn't. Painted bright gold on our black test bike, the frame looks sensational and helps shows off the crisp detailing on the engine. It also features a side-mounted rear monoshock which isn't just easier to adjust, it also allows the twin triangular exhausts to be routed cleanly beneath the seat, helping to balance the bike and keep those gorgeous cans out of harm's way.
Even the rear swingarm is a thing of beauty, ultra-rigid yet cleanly executed, while detailing such as the dot-matrix speedometer and trip computer, twin radial callipers and braided hoses really set it apart from its naked rivals.
Okay, that's not strictly true. There's also the issue of handling. Compared to its Japanese rivals, like the Hornet and Fazer, the Shiver is in a different league. Its short wheelbase and light weight means the Shiver feels instantly alive from the first turn of the wheel, and you're immediately struck by how responsive it is. At low speed, this makes it supremely manoeuvrable and adept at carving through traffic. The tall seating position aids visibility, and it's also extremely easy to get comfortable on, while the steering is light and ultra-precise which makes it a superb commuter, unless your commute involves some motorway or dual carriageway riding, in which case you might want to think about the optional sport fairing. Tank bags, tail bags and semi-rigid panniers are also available to boost the Shiver's practicality.
But it's not until you show it some open road that you really appreciate what Aprilia has managed with the Shiver. It's one of the most playful bikes I've encountered in some time, wagging its tail easily under hard braking, and allowing some knee-scraping action at pretty average speeds.
The ride quality is also perfectly suited to Irish roads, compliant enough to soak up the unwanted stuff, but talkative enough to keep the rider up to speed with how the tyres are reacting to the surface. Overcook things a little bit, and it's a breeze to flick it up and jump on the brakes safely. You could almost ride it like a supermoto, it's that nimble and adjustable. Heroics don't get any more accessible than this.
The Shiver also has a super-slick six-speed gearbox, fine brakes and razor-sharp throttle response, making it a great bike to go blasting down a favourite road on. The power delivery is surprisingly aggressive, however, and takes a little getting used to, although my test bike might have had the mapping tweaked for top-end power, which explains why it feels as if someone flicks a "power" switch at around 7,000 rpm.
The hydraulic clutch is also pretty heavy for sustained town driving, and while I'm complaining, I can't say I care for the fussy display either, but these are pretty minor foibles on what is otherwise a superb machine.
It's quick, incredibly nimble and technically very advanced and at a whisker under ten grand, it's an affordable piece of Italian exotica too.
Factfile: Aprilia Shiver
Engine:750cc, liquid-cooled, four-valve V-twin, 'Ride by Wire'
Output:95hp, 81Nm
Transmission:Six-speed gearbox, wet clutch, chain drive
Frame:Combined cast alumium spar and tubular steel trellis
Dimensions:Length: 2,265mm, Width: 800mm
Wheelbase:1,440mm, Seat Height 810mm
Weight:189kg dry
Suspension:43mm USD telescopic forks, aluminium swingarms with lateral monoshock
Wheels:Aluminium Alloy, 17-inch front and rear
Tyres:Front 120/70 ZR 17 Rear 180/55 ZR 17
Brakes:Four-piston radial front calliper, double 320mm disc; 1-piston rear calliper, 245mm single disc
Price:€9,995