The Aprilia RXV and SXV are four-stroke V-twin motorcycles: the RXV for off-road and enduro use, the SXV a dual-sport supermoto. Aprilia produced them from 2006, in 449 cc and 549 cc engine sizes, and they were among the first off-road motorcycles with fuel injection.
Aprilia RXV and SXV at a glance
| Shown and built | RXV presented in 2005 and in the catalogue until 2012; series produced since 2006 (English Wikipedia) |
|---|---|
| Engine sizes | 449 cc (450) and 549 cc (550); the 550 came a couple of years after the 450 |
| Engine layout | 77-degree V-twin, single overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder, dry sump, fuel injection |
| Power (claimed, crank) | 450: 60 hp (45 kW); 550: 70 hp |
| Frame | tubular steel with aluminium plates; air filter above the engine, under the tank |
| Related models | MXV (motocross) and SXV (supermoto) |
| Racing | enduro championships and the Dakar Rally |
English Wikipedia gives 2006 as the start of production and the Italian page says the RXV was presented in 2005.
History of the Aprilia RXV and SXV
The RXV was presented in 2005 and stayed in Aprilia’s catalogue until 2012. It was built in two displacements: a 450 cm³ at the debut and a 550 cm³ a couple of years later. It shared some components with the MXV and the SXV, the first for motocross and the second for supermoto (motard). The bike was first tested in competition and made available to the public some months later. One of its distinctive features against rivals was its four-stroke V-twin engine.
Besides the various enduro championships it was also used in other competitions such as the Dakar Rally; Alessandro Zanotti rode an RXV 450 in the 2011 Dakar Rally, according to the Commons photo caption used in this article.
Engine and chassis
English Wikipedia describes a V-twin engine that is one of the first in an off-road motorcycle to have fuel injection. The 450 has 449 cc and the 550 has 549 cc, each with one overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder; the 77-degree cylinder angle minimises vibration, and both are dry sump with a separate oil tank for gearbox and engine. The 450 produces a claimed 60 horsepower (45 kW) at the crank and the 550 a claimed 70.
The frame combines tubular steel and aluminium plates. The compact engine fits so that the air filter sits on top of the engine, below the fuel tank, rather than the traditional place under the seat, which gives a lower distribution of weight.
Design and features
- Engine: a four-stroke V-twin with fuel injection, single overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder.
- Lubrication: dry sump with a separate oil tank.
- Packaging: the air filter sits above the engine for a lower centre of mass.
- Versions: RXV off-road, SXV supermoto, MXV motocross.
Aprilia RXV and SXV versions
- RXV 450 (2005–2012): the 449 cc enduro bike.
- RXV 550: the 549 cc version with a claimed 70 hp.
- SXV 450 and 550 (2006): the supermoto versions.
- RXV 450 Rally: the version used in the Dakar Rally.
More Aprilia motorcycles are in our Aprilia collection, for example the SX, the RX, the Dorsoduro and the MX.
Aprilia RXV and SXV questions and answers
What is the difference between the RXV and the SXV?
The RXV is for off-road and enduro use, the SXV is a dual-sport supermoto.
What engine do they have?
A four-stroke 77-degree V-twin of 449 or 549 cc with fuel injection.
How much power do they make?
A claimed 60 hp for the 450 and 70 hp for the 550, measured at the crank.
Did the RXV race in the Dakar?
Yes, it was also used in the Dakar Rally.
When was it built?
From 2005 or 2006 to 2012.
Sources
- Aprilia RXV/SXV, English Wikipedia: frame, engine, power
- Aprilia RXV, Italian Wikipedia: presentation, versions, competition
