After I hopped on the Shiver for the first time, my eyes and fingers darted to the alien-looking buttons and controls. I was pawing at them like a 5-year-old in a toy store whos not supposed to touch anything. Because as much as I like the engine, brakes and handling of this new V-Twin Aprilia, my art-school-educated brain couldnt get past how well-designed the Shivers rider interface is. In this computer-driven world, weve become accustomed to navigating through menus with all sorts of clicks and taps, but unlike the automotive industry where this mentality quickly caught on, the bike industry is still playing catchup. Thankfully, Piaggios investment has allowed Aprilia to continue building stylish, great performing motorcycles that arent afraid to stray from the norm, right down to the welldesigned dash and its controls. The Shiver proves that being Italian doesnt have to mean quirky. Blake Conner, Associate Editor Dont mean to bag on long-distance cruisers, but the ringing in my ears persisted days after returning from 1400 miles of helmet-buffeting abuse aboard beastly machines fitted with windscreens. Suffice it to say, switching gear and getting my head into testing the unfaired Shiver was quite a contrast. Before you write me off as an anticruiser sportbike nut, truth is, for general everyday use Ill take a nice naked like the Shiver over any faired bike. I honestly appreciate the clean, undisturbed airflow and light, responsive, free flight sensation experienced when riding this Italian Twin. While these traits are shared by its class peers, the Shiver feels fresh and different in a unique way. Aprilia is headed in a good direction. As winter closes in and temperatures plummet, I may find myself singing the virtues of the Road King & Co. but, until then, Id rather Shiver on a warm summers day. Don Canet, Road Test Editor I have been to Aprilia. Admittedly, my visit to the Italian bike-makers manufacturing and design facilities took place long before the Piaggio buyout but, even then, it was an impressive place. There were rows of dyno cells, several automated rolling-road testbeds that essentially tried to beat motorcycles and scooters to death at an accelerated rate as the equipment slammed suspension with big bumps while robotic controls alternatively applied the brakes, made gearshifts or wrung out the throttle. We even got a rare glimpse into the styling studio. While most of the future-model studies were hidden, the place was still electric with creativity. So when European correspondent Bruno dePrato recently told me that Piaggio was going to utilize Aprilias R&D expertise across its brand platforms, I was pleasantly surprised. Because if the refined and crisply styled Shiver is any indication, this is a very good move. Mark Hoyer, Executive Editor

EDITORS' NOTES

aprilia 750 shiver
SPECIFICATIONS GENERAL List price $8999 Importer: Aprilia USA 140 E. 45th St. New York, NY 10017 www.apriliausa.com Customer service phone 212/380-4400 Warranty 24 mo./unlimited mi. ENGINE Engine liquid-cooled, four-stroke V-Twin Bore x Stroke 92.0 x 56.4mm Displacement 750cc Compression ratio 11.0:1 Valve train dohc, four valves per cylinder, shim adjustment Valve adjustment intervals 12,500 mi. Carburetion fuel-injection Oil capacity 3.4 qt. Electrical power 450w Battery 12v, 10ah CHASSIS Weight: Tank empty 470 lb. Tank full 495 lb. Fuel capacity 4.0 gal. Wheelbase 56.9 in. Rake/trail 25.7/4.3 in. Seat height 32.7 in. Ground clearance 6.8 in. GVWR 881 lb. Load capacity(tank full) 386 lb. HORSEPOWER/TORQUE SUSPENSION/TIRES Front suspension: Manufacturer Showa Tube diameter 43mm Claimed wheel travel 4.7 in. Adjustments none Rear suspension: Manufacturer Sachs Type single shock Claimed wheel travel 5.1 in. Adjustments spring preload, rebound damping Tires: Front Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier 120/70ZR17 Rear Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier 180/55ZR17 PERFORMANCE 1/4 mi. 12.17 sec. @ 110.89 mph 0-30 mph 1.5 sec. 0-60 mph 4.0 sec. 0-90 mph 8.0 sec. 0-100 mph 10.2 sec. Top gear time to speed: 40-60 mph 4.5 sec. 60-80 mph 4.8 sec. Measured top speed 130 mph Engine speed at 60 mph 4350 rpm FUEL MILEAGE High/low/avg. 43/37/39 mpg Avg. range inc. reserve 156 mi. BRAKING DISTANCE from 30 mph 30 ft. from 60 mph 131 ft. SPEEDOMETER ERROR 30 mph indicated 29 mph 60 mph indicated 58 mph

APRILIA SHIVER 750 / GT

SLIP-ON STREET LEGAL EXHAUST SYSTEM
SLIP-ON STREET LEGAL EXHAUST SYSTEM Our sporty and lightweight SLIP-ON systems offer a great balance between price and performance and represent the first step in the exhaust system tuning process. The change will be also visual as our mufflers with carbon-fiber end cap perfectly fit the exterior line of the sporty Shiver 750 and add a clean racing image. The muffler outer sleeve is made of titanium which gives a special hi-tech touch to our SLIP-ON system. We offer street legal version with removable noise damping muffler inserts. PERFORMANCE Measurements of the Akrapovic SLIP-ON system on the APRILIA SHIVER 750 (with muffler insert): Power & Torque: the exhaust system modification results in a major boost in performance, delivering a solid 81.2 HP at 9250 rpm on back wheel. But the increased power isnt available just at the top of the range; the system shows its quality already from 3500 rpm up through entire rpm range. Max. increased power between the Akrapovic and the stock system is 3.4 HP at 9250 rpm. Besides this, the torque is substantially higher in a lower rpm area from 3800 rpm to 6000.

DESCRIPTION

STOCK EXHAUST 80
AKRAPOVIC SLIP-ON EXHAUST

PERFORMANCE

max. rear wheel power HP / rpm

AKRAPOVIC

max. increased power
(measured on SuperFlow Cyle Dyn)

77.8 / 9250

81.2 / 9250

3.4 / 9250

WhlPwr

ADDITIONAL DATA

weight comparison (kg) stock 10.5 AKRAPOVIC SS link pipe 4.39 noise measurements (dB / rpm) legal for street use stock 98 / 4500 YES TITANIUM link pipe difference stock - S.S. 6.11 AKRAPOVIC 98 / 4500 stock TITANIUM -

EngTrq

55,52,50,0 20
47,6000 EngSpd RPM 9000 10000
Technical specifications of Akrapovic exhaust systems and related products subject to change without notice.
Product code: S-A7SO3-HDT
Akrapovi d.d. 2010 all rights reserved

02.12.2010

SHEMATIC
APRILIA Shiver, SLIP-ON exhaust system / Street legal Shiver Factory, SLIP-ON exhaust system / Street legal P-TT5 BELT Product code: S-A7SO3-HDT
V-EC60 END CAP LEFT V-TUV054L NOISE REDUCTION INSERT LEFT

P-VST2AL STICKER

P-HF478 FITTING ASSEMBLY BRACKET P-X64 BRACKET WITH NUTS P-MCTD42 MUFFLER CLAMP LEFT M-HD00202TL MUFFLER LEFT P-TT5 BELT
V-TUV054 NOISE REDUCTION INSERT RIGHT
V-EC61 END CAP RIGHT P-TT5 BELT P-HF267 LOCK TITE P-HF496 FITTING ASSEMBLY MC P-MCTD36 MUFFLER CLAMP RIGHT M-HD00202T MUFFLER RIGHT P-TT5 BELT P-S2 SPRING
L-A7SO4 LINK PIPE P-G39 GRAPHITE GASKET P-HF346 PLATE + FITTING ASSEMBLY - OPTIONAL
MUFFLER REPAIR KITS REPACK SLEEVE P-RPCK27 P-RKS220DT32