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| | | Road Test : Aprilia SL750 Shiver - Shiver in the morning! |  Written: 30/05/2007 : 16:19. Read 33254 times (20/day). | At a 2000 year old Castle in Italy the sound of horse’s hooves is replaced by a throaty rumble from a V-twin. The old horse wagons stand ready for a different type of transport. Knights in armour are replaced by men in leather and it makes the peasants shiver. We’re ready to ride, Shiver in the morning!
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The Aprilia test rider that I am following knows these mountains like the back of his pocket and the pace is urgent straight away. We ride through some fast sweeping corners, through a couple of villages and then up one of the many mountains North of Venice. This is where we will test the Shiver for a day and a half.
Aprilia have long wanted to fill the big gap in the model line-up between their 125’s and 1000cc motorcycles. Aprilia have been one of very few manufacturers without a real alternative for beginners. 
The SL750 Shiver is all new from top to toe. The V90 750 is Aprilia’s first big displacement engine built in house. The last big engine project was the 4.5 and 5.5 twins built for offroad and supermotard racing. The new SL750 has not been built for racing though; it is a pure street project with a big emphasis on torque. The RBW system completely controls the delivery of torque down to the air mixture. Traditionally the ECU would only control injection and ignition. 
In real life on the road it is hard to even notice that the throttle is ride-by-wire.  
The Shiver feels stable and solid even from standstill. The seat is wide and comfortable and the handlebars are easy to reach even when sitting upright. My knees tuck neatly in under the 15 litre fuel tank. Perfect straight away and all I have to think off is my riding.
Some large V-twin performance nakeds can be quite instant and to times even harsh in first gear. There is no such thing with the Shiver and it’s all very controlled and pleasant at low speed. 
The part steel trellis and part aluminium frame is more than solid enough for the SL750 Shiver. This tells us that Aprilia have more in mind for the Shiver frame than just this 750.  
Attached to the aluminium swingarm is a lightweight 17 inch wheel with a Dunlop D208 Qualifier 180/55-ZR17 tyre. At the front and equally sporty Qualifier in 120/70-ZR17. The Dunlop Qualifiers provided plenty of grip early and suited the 189kg (claimed dry-weight) Shiver well. The double 320mm steel discs come directly from the RSV-R sportsbike flanked by Aprilia’s four pot radial struts. There is plenty of power in them and through the 43mm USD fork I had full control over the braking when needed. 
Conclusion
The SL750 Shiver is a motorcycle that gives confidence straight away. There is no steep learning curve and everything is just smooth and easy. Use the upper rev-range and the sporty Aprilia character shines through coupled with a great chassis and good brakes. Everything you expect from Aprilia is there and with that exciting new 750cc V-twin the Shiver can’t go much wrong. The engine sounds great and has got so much more character than a highly strung in-line four. And at £5.500 the price is right too. 
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High tech made practical with an exciting V-twin engine
Great handling and good brakes
This is the Aprilia that many people has been waiting for
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A more aggressive first gear would have been fun
Slow pick up from higher gears
Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Milagro
APRILIA SL 750 Shiver - Technical Specifications
Engine
Aprilia V90 Four stroke longitudinal 90° V twin. Liquid cooling. Double overhead camshaft with mixed gear/chain drive; four valves per cylinder.
Fuel: Unleaded petrol.
Bore x stroke: 92 x 56.4 mm
Total displacement: 749.9 cc
Compression ratio: 11 : 1
Maximum power at the crank: 95 HP at 9000 rpm.
Maximum torque at the crank: 8.25 kgm at 7000 rpm.
Fuel system: Integrated engine management system. Injection with Ride by Wire technology control of the throttle bodies
Ignition: Digital electronic, integrated with the injection, two spark plugs per cylinder
Starting: Electric
Exhaust: Two in one system in 100% stainless steel with three-way catalytic converter and Lambda probe
Generator: 450 W at 6000 rpm.
Lubrication: Wet sump
Gearbox: six speed, transmission ratio:
1° 36/14 (2.57)
2° 32/17 (1.88)
3° 30/20 (1.5)
4° 28/22 (1.27)
5° 23/26 (0.88)
6° 24/25 (0.96)
Clutch: Multi-plate in oil bath, cable operated.
Primary drive: Spur gears, transmission ratio: 60/31 (1.75)
Final drive: Chain
Transmission ratio: 16/44
Frame
Dismountable steel trellis connected with high strength bolts to aluminium side plates. Dismountable rear frame.
Front suspension: 43 mm upside-down fork. 120 mm wheel travel.
Rear suspension: Aluminium alloy swingarm with reinforcement truss. Hydraulic shock absorber adjustable in spring preload and rebound damping. Wheel travel: 130 mm.
Brakes
Front: Double stainless steel floating disc (Ø 320 mm ). Four piston radial calipers. Metal braided brake line.
Rear: Steel disk ( 245 mm) with twin piston caliper. Metal braided brake line.
Wheels
In aluminium alloy, Front: 3.50 X 17" Rear: 6.00 X 17"
Tyres
Radial tubeless;
front: 120/70 ZR 17
rear: 180/55 ZR 17
Dimensions
Overall length: 2066 mm
Overall width: 815 mm (at handlebars)
Overall height: 1132 mm
Seat height: 810 mm
Wheelbase: 1449 mm
Trail: 109 mm
Rake angle: 25.7°
Dry weight
189 kg
Tank capacity
15 lt
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