BIKETEST APRILIA SHIVER:The Shiver has settings for rain, sport and touring and works well in each mode, writes GEOFF HILL
MY ROYAL Enfield has a sophisticated fuel mapping system to ensure a smooth delivery of every single one of its 22 brake horsepower from the engine to rear wheel. Called the throttle, it is conveniently within arm’s reach at the end of the right handlebar. To go faster, you twist it. To use the economy mode, you turn the engine off, twist it and make engine noises.
Sadly, in this wireless Bluetooth, iPod, MP3-driven age, even this level of sophistication is not enough for some people.
Which is why I found myself being shown the intricacies of the three-stage engine mapping system on the Aprilia Shiver by Mark, the youthful and endlessly enthusiastic mechanic at the Motorcycle Centre in Belfast.
“The three settings are Rain, Touring and Sport, and you change them by holding down the red ignition switch,” he said, toggling effortlessly between the three with the air of a young man whose thumb is used to warp-speed texting.
Splendid. As I rode off it started to rain. Glancing at the digital readout beside the analogue tacho, I saw Mark had left the bike in Sport mode, so I pulled over to switch it to Rain. I pressed the ignition, and the engine stopped. I pressed it the other way and the engine started.
Five minutes later, I was still fiddling. Mark had said press and hold the ignition switch, hadn’t he? Sighing deeply, I got off and looked for hidden switches, secret panels or, for all I knew, library shelves which swung back when you removed a copy of Motorcycling for Gentleman by Henry Fortescue-ffrench, revealing a passageway to the centre of the earth. But no, there was nothing. Just the ignition, and heavy rain.
Already in low spirits after crashing a Kawasaki the week before, and facing a hefty repair bill, I got back on thinking it was time I gave up this motorcycling lark and tested something less dangerous, like marshmallows.
Still, never say die, and after another bout of fiddling, I managed, more by luck than judgement, to get the bike into Rain mode, and set off.
This produced a muted power delivery which would be perfect for a nervous novice moving up to his first big bike.
Even better, once I was out into the country and onto some nice twisty roads, the rain stopped and I was able to get the bike into Touring mode, which showed almost immediately that the electronic fly-by-wire throttle, that Aprilia head of development Gianluca di Oto reckons will be standard on all bikes before long, works well, with a good range of torque for a midsize engine, and lots of power between 5,000 and 8,000rpm, just where you want it for overtaking and powering out of corners.
It’ll also spin out quite happily to the 10,000 redline, in spite of an annoying red warning light which started to flash at 6,000rpm, just when the bike was starting to get going.
The light weight and low centre of gravity mean the Shiver just loves to be flung hard in and out of corners. By now, the roads had dried enough to try the Sport setting, and what a load of fun that was, with lots of oomph from the 750cc V-twin accompanied by a fabulous growl from the exhaust.
Heading back down the motorway, the engine hummed along at a happy 5,000rpm at 70mph, and the tiny screen was doing a surprisingly good job of keeping the wind off.
In town, it was back to the Touring setting, since the Sport mode leaves the throttle a bit too snatchy at low speeds for smooth filtering through traffic.
“Well, what did you think?” asked Dominic, the Motorcycle Centre boss. “Lovely bike that. Apart from that annoying red light,” I said. “Ah, that’s just set at 6,000rpm to remind you to keep the revs down before its first service. You can set it higher, or just switch it off,” he said. Problem solved.
Factfile Aprilia Shiver
Engine: 750cc four-stroke V-twin, eight valves.
Power and torque: 95bhp at 9,000rpm, 59.8lb ft of torque at 7,000rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed, chain final drive.
Performance: 120mph.
Front suspension: 43mm upside-down fork: 120mm wheel travel.
Rear suspension: aluminium alloy swingarm with reinforcement truss. Hydraulic monoshock with adjustable rebound and preload. Wheel travel 130mm.
Brakes: front double 320mm stainless steel floating discs, four-piston radial calipers; rear 245mm stainless steel disc, single piston caliper.
Tyres: radial tubeless. Front, 120/70 ZR 17. Rear, 180/55 ZR 17.
Seat height: 810mm.
Wheels: aluminium alloy. Front, 3.50x17in. Rear, 6.00x17in.
Wheelbase: 1440mm.
Dry weight: 189kgs.
Fuel capacity: 16 litres.
Colours: red, green, black, white.
There is no Aprilia dealer in the Republic. Prices in the North are from £5,999. Test bike from The Motorcycle Centre, Belfast: motorcyclesni.co.uk