Aprilia raced their spankin' new 450cc, 70 degree Rotax V-Twin in the penultimate race of World Supermoto this weekend. For those who don't know, supermoto bikes are basically dirt bikes with slick tires that race on tarmac. Pretty exciting stuff.

The big deal here is that pretty much all dirt bikes are single-cyclinder "thumpers". Aprilia's new V-Twin is counterbalanced, which allows it to spin up to 14,000 rpm, allowing it to pump out more hp than the average 450cc dirtbike.

Aprilia finished an unispiring 23rd, but the bike - engine, frame, suspension and all - went from the drawing board to racing in a matter of only a few months. Impressive, considering that the bike had zero mechanical problems during the race. This bodes well for future Aprilia endeavors in Supermoto, Moto-X and Dual Sports.

Personally, I'm hoping Aprilia will offer a Dual Sport powered by this engine. It would be more powerful and smoother than the typical single-cylinder thumper, making it easier and more comfortable to ride on the streets and highways on the way to the dirt trails. It would also be much lighter and smaller than the typical 650cc + dual sport that tends to be too heavy to throw around on the dirt.

Motorcycle USA

 

Here's a picture and link to info on the engine itself.

Motorcycle USA: Aprilia 450cc V-Twin

 

Actually, it is better known around the world as supermotard

 

While it looks cool - I am not sure how suitable it is going to be for super-motard racing where the turns are very tights and there are not many long sections to take advantage of the power. The torque of the thumpers will be hard to compete with.

Ron.