SportBiKeZ

Aprilia’s FV2 concept bike, which has been making the expo rounds, is here to showcase three things: first and foremost, the company’s home-cooked 1200cc, 90-degree v-twin engine, which we’ll probably be seeing in the RSV and Tuono in the next couple of years. With a bore and stroke of 106 x 67.8mm, it’s almost as oversquare as Moto Morini’s CorsaCorta motor, so it’s going to be a nice, quick-revving, racy powerplant. The company is claiming 134.5 metric horses and over 10.5 kgm of torque, which is in the ballpark for sporty streetbikes and nakeds these days.

Secondly, the FV2 demonstrates some of Aprilia’s future technical direction. To that end, the injection is controlled by a fly-by-wire system like what’s already used on the 750cc Shiver. There’s traction control, ABS and electronically adjustable suspension. Ho hum. The dash integrates a nav system and a bunch of downloadable performance telemetry data, which you can send to a phone or PC, and it’s set up so you can easily upload new engine mappings from the Web in a similar way.

Perhaps most interesting is the front end - a pair of big slabby Hossack-style forks that look similar to the Duolever system BMW has been putting on its K1200R. is a bit of an obsession of mine, so I’d be very glad to see Aprilia working to move beyond the telescopic fork and give the market some options.

The final purpose of the FV2 concept is to show us the direction Aprilia wants to take its styling in, and to that I’d say “please kill me.” The front-heavy techno look with that ginormous dangling radiator does very little for me except to say “I’m going to be hard to control on the back wheel.” Having said that, the rear two-thirds of the bike aren’t bad to look at, in a sort of KTM RC8 meets MV Agusta sort of way. The shorty pipes are pretty sexy and the shock is very accessible, which wouldn’t matter to FV2 owners with their wimpy electronic adjustment, but is very welcome on any bike we’re expected to adjust with a c-spanner and a tub of elbow grease.

Suzuki GB has announced the recommended retail price and availability for the all-new GSX-R600 and 750 models. Available from the first week of March, the new GSX-R600 will have a recommended retail price of £7,200, and for early adopters will be available in a limited white colour scheme.

As well as announcing the 600 pricing, Suzuki GB has also confirmed the new GSX-R750’s recommended retail price of £8,200, which will be available from authorised dealers just one week after the 600.

Suzuki GB’s sales and marketing director, Nick Palmer commented, “I am pleased to be able to announce the recommended retail price and availability of both new GSX-R models. As well as confirming the arrival dates, we have secured a limited run of just 220 GSX-R600s in the special white colour scheme, which will be the first colour available in the UK.”

Both the GSX-R600 and 750 will be on display at this weeks London Motorcycle Show held at Excel London. (Show opens Thursday 31st January and closes on Sunday 3rd February).

For more information on the all-new GSX-R600 and 750 models visit www.suzuki.co.uk or your local authorised Suzuki dealer.