About two years ago, Aprilia surprised everyone with the new SXV and RXV models powered by a V-twin engine. The Italian manufacturer is a leader, not a follower, and it gives further proof by introducing the industry's first V-twin that's specifically designed to motivate a supermoto/enduro bike.

Unique in its class, this magnificent Italian bike is built on a "mixed" frame structure.

Innovative solutions
Unique in its class, this magnificent Italian bike is built on a "mixed" frame structure that combines a steel perimeter frame with aluminum alloy vertical members. This type of construction offers exemplary rigidity while allowing some flexibility in strategic areas. The superb box-section swingarm, also made of aluminum, will certainly make many superbikes jealous. This innovative chassis gives the SXV razor-sharp precision for any maneuver. The bike attacks corners with disconcerting ease and, thanks to impeccable stability, it allows you to hit the throttle early so as to exit said corners like a champion.

The twin-cylinder of the Aprilia SXV 5.5 offers unprecedented rider-friendliness. The abundant mid-range torque has a lot to do with it. I was pleasantly surprised to see how easy it is to keep pace with a superbike on ultra-twisty roads (at legal speeds, of course). When the road gets bumpy and corners become sandy, the SXV is unbeatable due to its feather weight and unparalleled handling.

However, you have to get used to the power delivery, which is sometimes violent and hard to modulate, especially at higher revs. While the drivetrain is exemplary, only seasoned riders will be able to push this bike to the limit. Upon reaccelerating, you must use the throttle with pin-point accuracy because the engine pushes extremely hard and the 180-mm rear tire (same size as a superbike) barely manages to retain its grip, compromising front-wheel balance at the same time.

The twin-cylinder of the Aprilia SXV 5.5 offers unprecedented rider-friendliness.