Attack of the twins
let's compare two hot-blooded Italians!
Two racing beasts born to rock the clock and the asphalt. Get ready to set the chicks and your wallet ablaze with the Aprilia RSV-R 1000 and the Ducati 999...
bEHAVIOR :
- Ah, the joys of the twin-cylinder, that sound that escapes from your pots, that rigor and finish, no doubt you're riding an Aprilia! This bike is a real kick in the butt. The riding position is obviously race-oriented, and you feel like you're at one with the bike. In town, well... it's not in its genes. The RSV drags its heels and the engine cries out in pain, so unless you want to show off, you'll want to avoid city use! On the fast lane? Mmmmmmmm, 
ecstasy! With an ultra-rigorous chassis and a roaring engine, the sensations are there for all to see; that's the Aprilia twin-cylinder: a constant thrust whose end is never in sight, with the famous kick arriving at around 7500 rpm. Vibrations are discreet thanks to two balancing weights. A clutch pressure limiter reduces the risk of the rear wheel locking up during hard downshifts - the ultimate in luxury! What's more, the bike is ultra-handy. It obeys you with its finger and sometimes even its eye! Its wind-tunnel-tuned profile ensures optimum penetration of the air, so you'll never be blown off course or feel the gusts of wind. Stability is perfect. The demonic engine is a jewel of technology, and everything is optimized to ensure that the bike spits out the best of its capabilities - 138 HP at full power! But in France, what can you do with a bike like this? Apart from having fun and chasing lap times on the racetrack, I don't know... But it's still possible to ride it every day, out of passion!
9/10
- Continuing with exclusivity and other circuit beasts, the Ducati 999, the other road-legal racing bike! With its waspish size, the Ducat could almost be mistaken for a 125, but make no mistake, there's more than 140 HP under the fairing (free version), ready to smash all lap times, and incidentally all licenses... Just like the RSV, forget the city and devote yourself to the fast lanes or 
circuits! Start-up is smooth, and the bike takes its first turns gradually. After 4,000 rpm, you're in for a slap-up ride and realize the character of the beast you're riding. What's more, it's agile. The turns come one after the other, and you look forward to the next one every time. It's like magic: you almost only have to look at one point on the road for the bike to jump in! The slim saddle allows you to feel the Ducati, even at the expense of comfort, so you can place it perfectly in the corner. But speed climbs very, very quickly, and the Ducati is not easy to control. Fortunately, the brakes are very effective and reassuring. Keep an eye on the speedometer, though, or the machine will quickly take you beyond the speed limit. The engine is rather smooth and the gearbox is not too hard for a hypersport in this class. The suspension is a little soft, but that's a matter of fine-tuning. A bike that will let you go wild, but to be consumed in moderation...
8/10
cOMFORT :
- Good for a hypersport, the rider's seat is neither too thin nor too thick, allowing you to get the right feel for the 
bike, but also to swallow up the miles without breaking your back. The riding position is obviously sporty, and your arms will reach far for the RSV's handlebars, but not too far. Last but not least, the 1000 allows itself the unprecedented luxury of being able to offer quite comfortable duets, with a respectable passenger seat and well-placed footrests! You'll be able to ride one or two without counting the cost, depending on your riding style...
5/10
- Bad for Ducati, the Italians apparently didn't bother with the bike's comfort. By focusing all their efforts on performance, they've inevitably overlooked some of the bike's strengths, resulting in an impossible duo and an ultra-thin seat!
4/10
eQUIPMENT :
- The dashboard is impeccable, but it's the design that makes the RSV stand out from the crowd: thin, varnished bodywork, replica paint and rather original headlights will surprise many a rider! A very compact bike built for speed, with performance on a par with the best hypersportives on the market... Brilliant!
8/10
- A 
look that's both modern and retro, the Ducati surprises! The waspish waistline could be mistaken for a 125 (sacrilege!). Red paint, de rigueur varnish and a sleek profile make you envious. Aerodynamics have been pushed to the limit, and it shows! However, purists may regret some of the details on this Italian beauty: the 916 's single-arm and double-silencer have disappeared to make way for a new, stronger swingarm. An attractive but simple machine...
7/10
cONCLUSION :
rSV-R 1000:a superb bike, a sportbike that's much talked-about and respected in the motorcycling world, both for its performance and its reliability. It also has that extra "hair" of versatility over the Ducati that makes the RSV an ideal bike for demanding, seasoned riders. Because as well as killing times on the track, the Aprilia will let you travel without too many worries, alone or with a friend... An elitist, high-performance motorcycle, but not so exclusive... ;-)
Overall score: 8/10
ducati 999 : Unlike the RSV, the Ducati is very exclusive and sorely lacking in versatility. But it remains a real missile on the track, and its handling is more than perfect. A bike that's more about riding than driving, I'd call it a "moto-pleasure". Its place, in my opinion, is more in competition than on our good old French roads, where your license wouldn't last 1 hour...
Overall score: 6/10
(manufacturer's photos)
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| Aprilia RSV-R 1000 2005 | Ducati 999 2005 | ||||||||
Chassis |
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| Nombre de places | |||||||||
| Frame | |||||||||
| double poutre en alliage alu | Treillis tubulaire en acier | ||||||||
| Fuel capacity | |||||||||
| 18 liters (4.76 US gallons) | 15.50 liters (4.09 US gallons) | ||||||||
| Oil capacity | |||||||||
| Seat height | |||||||||
| Seat height : 810 mm (31.89 in) | Seat height : 780 mm (30.71 in) | ||||||||
| Length | |||||||||
| Length : 2,035 mm (80.12 in) | Length : 2,095 mm (82.48 in) | ||||||||
| Width | |||||||||
| 730 mm (28.74 in) | |||||||||
| Height | |||||||||
| Min height : 1,145 mm (45.08 in) | Min height : 1,110 mm (43.70 in) | ||||||||
| Ground clearance | |||||||||
| Wheelbase | |||||||||
| 1,418 mm (55.83 in) | 1,420 mm (55.91 in) | ||||||||
| Dry weight | |||||||||
| 189 kg | 186 kg | ||||||||
| Curb mass | |||||||||
| Weight when fully loaded | |||||||||
| Brake assist | |||||||||
Front axle |
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| Suspension | |||||||||
| Reverse telehydraulic fork Ø 43 mm | Reverse telehydraulic fork Ø 43 mm | ||||||||
| Wheel travel | |||||||||
| 120 mm (4.72 in) | 125 mm (4.92 in) | ||||||||
| Angle de chasse | |||||||||
| Setting | |||||||||
| Brake | |||||||||
| Braking 2 discs Ø 320 mm (12.6 in), 4-piston caliper | Braking 2 discs Ø 320 mm (12.6 in), 4-piston caliper | ||||||||
| Wheel | |||||||||
| Front tire : 120 / 70 - 17 | Front tire : 120 / 70 - 17 | ||||||||
| Pressure | |||||||||
| 2.1 bar | |||||||||
| Handlebars | |||||||||
Transmission |
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| Gearbox | |||||||||
| 6 stage gearbox | 6 stage gearbox , manual | ||||||||
| Transmission | |||||||||
| Secondary by chain | Secondary by chain | ||||||||
Rear axle |
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| Suspension | |||||||||
| Mono-damper | Mono-damper | ||||||||
| Wheel travel | |||||||||
| 133 mm (5.24 in) | 128 mm (5.04 in) | ||||||||
| Setting | |||||||||
| Brake | |||||||||
| Braking 1 disc Ø 220 mm (8.66 in), 2-piston caliper | Braking 1 disc Ø 240 mm (9.45 in), 2-piston caliper | ||||||||
| Wheel | |||||||||
| Rear tire : 190 / 50 - 17 | Rear tire : 190 / 50 - 17 | ||||||||
| Pressure | |||||||||
| 2.2 bar | |||||||||
Motor |
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| Motor type | |||||||||
| two-cylinder 60° V-shaped , 4 strokes | two-cylinder 90° L-shape , 4 strokes | ||||||||
| Cooling system | |||||||||
| liquid | liquid | ||||||||
| Fuel system | |||||||||
| Injection Ø 57 mm | Injection Ø 54 mm | ||||||||
| Fuel | |||||||||
| Starting system | |||||||||
| Timing | |||||||||
| 2 ACT | 2 desmodromic ACT | ||||||||
| Number of valves | |||||||||
| 4 valves per cylinder | 4 valves per cylinder | ||||||||
| Displacement | |||||||||
| 997.6 cc, Bore x stroke: 97 x 67,5 mm | 998 cc, Bore x stroke: 100 x 63.5 mm | ||||||||
| Power | |||||||||
| 136.1 ch to 9,500 rpm | 138.1 ch to 9,750 rpm | ||||||||
| With compressed air | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Compression | |||||||||
| 11.8:1 | 11.4:1 | ||||||||
| Torque | |||||||||
| 10.30 mkg to 8,000 rpm | 11.10 mkg to 8,000 rpm | ||||||||
| With compressed air | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Émission sonore | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 34ch (A MTT1 Permit) | |||||||||
| No | No | ||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 48ch (French A2 Permit) | |||||||||
| No | No | ||||||||
Options/Equipment |
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Practical information |
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Compare |
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Acceleration
Aprilia RSV-R 1000 2005
: 3.4 s
Ducati 999 2005
Undisclosed
Fuel consumption
Aprilia RSV-R 1000 2005
: 6.60 liters/100km (0.36 mpg)
Ducati 999 2005
Undisclosed
Range
Aprilia RSV-R 1000 2005
: 273 km (170 miles)
Ducati 999 2005
Undisclosed
Torque
Aprilia RSV-R 1000 2005
: 10.3 mkg
Ducati 999 2005
: 11.1 mkg
Power
Aprilia RSV-R 1000 2005
: 138 ch (136.10 hp)
Ducati 999 2005
: 140 ch (138.10 hp)
Power-to-Weight ratio
Aprilia RSV-R 1000 2005
: 1.39 kg/ch
Ducati 999 2005
: 1.35 kg/ch
Torque-to-Weight ratio
Aprilia RSV-R 1000 2005
: 18.35 kg/mkg
Ducati 999 2005
: 16.76 kg/mkg
Speed
Aprilia RSV-R 1000 2005
: approximately 280 km/h (174 mph)
Ducati 999 2005
: approximately 275 km/h (170.90 mph)
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2004
2005
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2005
2006
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France
Bikers' reviews
Rating : 5/5 Respond to obi