Power and versatility for Aprilia's new maxi. Technology, handling, performance and fascination for a new concept "light" sports twin.

APRILIA SL 1000 FALCO

Biking in the pure state.

A new concept twin in a light-sports version aimed at all those who identify with the pleasure of a sporty but not extreme ride. The quest for sensations and thrills, where the machine's rationality and versatility guarantee performance, safety, handling, exclusivity and comfort. The Aprilia SL 1000 FALCO incorporates all the sports and performance concepts typical of Aprilia motorbikes, but creates a new and effective mix for an easy, enjoyable machine, fascinating in every shape and detail. A bike with bags of character and a powerful and generous heart, capable of delivering the maximum of power with incredible ease and control in any situation. In the design and construction of this motorbike, Aprilia has closely analysed the positive trend of the market - in particular in Europe - for high capacity motorbikes, its constant evolution and the need to offer an ever more diversified range to meet every need and requirement. The constant growth of Aprilia in this segment as well has enabled the company to achieve major objectives, offering products of an extremely high technological and stylistic level. The company is now in a position to present the international market with a complete range. A product such as the SL 1000 FALCO confirms the creativity of this Italian motorcycle company, able to take on the traditional competitors and set new standards in an ever more crowded and fragmented scenario. The Aprilia SL 1000 FALCO is the bike for the pure enthusiast who rides for passion and fun, for all those who want to avoid the monotony of the motorways to seek out the side roads, even better if tortuous or in the mountains. A rediscovery of the pure "primitive" and sincere pleasure of biking. A quest for harmony between machine, rider and surrounding landscape. The thrill that comes not so much from the lap time, as from the motorbike's flexibility of use, from "light" medium-range touring. A motorbike where the riding pleasure is always as great as the performance.

THE PRODUCT

The design concept guiding development of the motorbike was to create a "light sports" bike, combining the best characteristics typical of motorbikes in the segment (extremely easy and safe sporty ride, good handling, easy and enjoyable to ride and adequate comfort, including with a passenger) with a highly personal and innovative design. The design and technology of the SL 1000 FALCO is therefore less extreme than the RSV MILLE. The design has modern and original lines, attractive in their essentiality. There are few plastic fairing elements to make the motorbike "light" (including visually). The half fairing leaves all the technical elements in view, from the frame to the engine and mechanical components. The frame and swingarm are completely new, both in design and construction. However, the general style of the motorbike is the same and there are precise and distinctive elements of family feeling in many aspects of the design (such as the triple front lighting assembly). From the RSV Mille, the new SL undoubtedly inherits the high performance personality, already demonstrating the characteristics necessary to position itself as the most "sporty" light sports model on the market. The exceptional fluidity of the highly successful 60° V twin engine, optimised for this type of use, delivers 118 hp to the shaft in this version, an impressive power made even more high performance and efficient by the sophisticated mechanics.

DESIGN, COMFORT AND FUNCTIONALITY

The lightness of the SL 1000 FALCO also derives from its "naked" essentiality: the burnished engine, the polished frame and the refined components are in full view, giving this motorbike a special fascination and personality. As for every Aprilia product, the sophisticated and personal design of the SL 1000 FALCO has been developed by lengthy and meticulous wind tunnel testing, optimising not just the coefficient of penetration, but also the impact of the rider with the air flows. All this, together with an equally in-depth ergonomic study - from the general dimensions to the riding position - reduces fatigue to a minimum and multiplies the control, safety and comfort (for the passenger as well) of the motorbike. As well as giving the bike an original and exclusive look, aerodynamically integrated with the overall design, the front triple optical assembly gives the SL 1000 FALCO even more personality and is also an important element of active safety. The three high efficiency parabolas, scientifically computer designed, guarantee exceptional visibility. The knob to adjust the height of the light beam is also practical and functional. Characterised by fascinating and sinuous lines, perfectly integrated with the rear optical assembly, the unmistakable "tail" of the SL 1000 FALCO has a practical ergonomically designed rear handle which also acts as a spoiler. A roomy glove compartment completes the comfort and practicality of this motorbike, a further exclusive detail for a truly multipurpose "sports" bike. Also worthy of note is the very low level of vibrations and high riding range, guaranteed by a 21 litre tank (including four litre reserve), two other important and distinctive factors which increase its comfort and functionality.

THE ENGINE

The SL 1000 FALCO engine is the same as that fitted in the supersports RSV, with a major revision of the injection mapping and tuning to optimise performance for the less extreme riding style of the SL customer. It delivers 118 hp to the shaft at 9,500 revolutions (measured with ECE cycle) and a maximum torque of 9.75 kgm at 7,000 revs/minute. As in the RSV Mille, the decision to use a 60° "V" twin engine originated from the need for a light, compact engine to avoid having to compromise the design of the mechanical components in any way with less than optimal technical solutions and weight distribution. The two-cylinder engine (typical of the European motorcycling tradition) also maximises riding pleasure, combining perfectly with the mechanical and handling characteristics of the SL 1000 FALCO. We therefore have all the technical characteristics which have made the RSV mille famous and appreciated: - 60° longitudinal "V" twin engine (short and compact for optimum positioning inside the frame); timing with four valves per cylinder and double cam shaft in the cylinder head, controlled by a mixed chain and gear system - electronic fuel injection system with dynamic air intakes; 51 mm diameter throttle bodies and continuous self-diagnostic system with display of system anomalies on the dashboard. - CDI type ignition with a TSI (Twin Spark Ignition) system using two spark plugs per cylinder. Ignition is controlled by the engine's integrated control system which also controls injection. - dry crank case lubrication using a second recovery trochoidal pump and an external oil reservoir (as well as a radiator located in front of the engine). The external oil reservoir consists of a single aluminium casting to guarantee maximum seal, constructional quality and improved cooling. With the dry crankcase system, the engine block can be more rigid and compact than with a "wet crankcase" system, totally eliminating the risk of poor engine lubrication during sudden acceleration/declaration, falls, or wheelies; - mixed gear/chain timing. The pair of gears (one for each timing chain) in the engine block enables the size of the cylinder heads to be reduced; Further confirmation of the exclusive technology comes from the exclusive Aprilia patents incorporated in the SL 1000 FALCO: - the AVDC (anti-vibration double countershaft) double balancing countershaft system based on an anti-vibration countershaft rotating in the opposite direction to the engine shaft, balancing the first order forces. The moment generated by the countershaft is in turn balanced by a second smaller countershaft inside the cylinder head. As known and appreciated, use of this technique results in an engine with excellent power, torque and output characteristics and extremely low vibrations; - the servo-assisted hydraulic controlled clutch covered by the PPC (Pneumatic Power Clutch) patent to control rear wheel bounce. During sudden deceleration, the weight of the motorbike is transferred repeatedly onto the front end, lightening the rear of the motorbike. This phenomenon, accentuated in high powered twins by the high "engine braking" effect, produces the so-called "rear wheel bounce", in other words, the tendency for the rear wheel to lock and leave the ground, compromising the stability of the motorbike and thus also performance and safety. The Aprilia patented system already used in the RSV mille exploits the pressure variations occurring in the intake pipes when the throttle opens and closes to lighten the pressure on the clutch springs and consequently reduce the engine braking effect on the rear wheel. The operating logic is both simple and effective. A tube connects the intake pipe to a "reservoir" located alongside the clutch assembly in such a way that the drop in pressure arising when the throttle closes reduces the pressure exerted by the springs on the disks. When the throttle reopens, the clutch again operates under normal pressure conditions, thus transferring the full power to the rear wheel. The system also enables the force on the handlebar lever to be reduced when the motorbike is operating at low revolutions.

THE EXHAUST

One of the distinctive characteristics of the Aprilia SL 1000 FALCO is the exhaust system with two silencers made entirely from stainless steel (to guarantee a long working life and long-term maintenance of characteristics) with a total volume of 11 litres. The position and volume of the terminals was determined after in-depth aerodynamic and ridability analyses. The system chosen: - guarantees the equilibrium of the motorbike; - ensures low noise levels; - does not generate irritating turbulence at high speed; - is in accordance with EURO 1 standards without requiring a catalytic converter.

MECHANICS

In line with tradition, the frame and mechanics are a tribute to Aprilia's know-how and the maximum expression of the company's philosophy. The splendid frame consists of a double beam in bent parallel aluminium and magnesium alloy extrusions (DOUBLE TWIN BEAM) guaranteeing the highest coefficient of torsional rigidity in its class. After in-depth studies, the simple and refined appearance enables welding of the frame to be drastically reduced. The advantages include considerably lower tensions in the frame, a reduction in tolerances, improved engine cooling and an overall increase in constructional quality. The rear swingarm, also in aluminium and magnesium alloy, has a cast shell-shaped central section with extruded arms and forged terminals. It represents the best possible solution for an optimum relationship between lightness and torsional rigidity. The design is also aimed at achieving the best possible weight/rigidity ratio. The result is riding precision and a prompt response to commands well above the competition, partly as a consequence of the optimum weight distribution: 49% at the front, 51% at the rear.

COMPONENTS

- Showa upside-down front suspension with 43 mm diameter sleeves. External hydraulic system for regulating rebound, compression and preload; - Sachs rear suspension, adjustable in extension and preload, with APS (Aprilia Progressive System) progressive linkage; - Brembo Oro braking system (the same as used in the RSV mille) with sinterised pads both front and rear and Freudenberge brake tubes (guaranteeing performance and characteristics on a par with plaited tubes); - removable aluminium saddle mount frame; - aluminium instrument mount; - aluminium footrest mounts; - removable ergonomic rear passenger handle, also acts as a built-in spoiler, perfectly integrated into the refined design of the rear tail; - digital analogue multi-function dashboard incorporating injection auto-diagnosis and chronometer with 40 memories actioned by the passing signal (flash of headlight); - the multifocal "free-form" front headlight is made from plastic to ensure lightness and optimum weight balance in a zone critical for ridability. It can easily be adjusted both vertically and horizontally and uses three H7 55 Watt halogen bulbs, two top main beam bulbs and one bottom dipped beam bulb. There is also a convenient and functional knob inside the front fairing to easily and rapidly regulate the height of the entire lighting assembly (and thus also the light beam). The functional characteristics are the depth and width of the light beam together with the excellent intensity and homogeneity of the illumination. - rear light with automobile inspired design and two-filament "5-stem" bulb with an absolute guarantee of long life and safety, perfectly integrated with the design of the motorbike, giving it personality and a unique and standard-setting look.