Aprilia has pushed the RSV4 into another special configuration with the Obscure Spe.Ed., a numbered production run of 500 motorcycles. Its priorities are unmistakably track-oriented: BST carbon wheels, fully adjustable conventional Öhlins suspension and aerodynamic hardware inspired by the MotoGP leg-wing concept. It is not a track-only machine, however. The bike remains road legal and is supplied with a pillion seat and passenger footrests.

The Obscure sits above the RSV4 and RSV4 Factory, listed at £18,940 and £23,940 respectively. It follows the more extreme RSV4 X-GP and X250TH specials, but is much closer to a usable road motorcycle. The X-GP is track-only and was listed at £77,000, while the X250TH is limited to 30 examples and was listed at more than €115,000 before VAT.

Downforce with a passenger-footrest trade-off

The carbon leg wings are derived from the RS-GP race bike. Aprilia says they add 20% more downforce at the rear wheel, with improved rear-tyre grip as the intended benefit. They occupy the passenger-footrest mounts, and the kit includes a separate bracket for the exhaust silencer. The parts operate alongside the RSV4 Factory’s wing package, which was developed in a wind tunnel and is associated with a claimed 6% reduction in straight-line drag.

Weight reduction is the other major theme. BST’s carbon wheels are claimed to save more than 2 kg over the Factory’s forged-aluminium wheels. Carbon is also used for the mudguards, side panels, footrest guards and front-brake cooling ducts. With 90% fuel, the motorcycle is quoted at 201 kg, 3 kg below the Factory. Specifying the optional full Aprilia Racing Technology exhaust with its carbon SC-Project silencer brings the quoted figure down to 196 kg.

A familiar V4 with a more direct chassis set-up

The 1,099cc 65-degree V4 produces a quoted 217 bhp at 13,000 rpm and 94 lb.ft at 10,800 rpm in standard form. The optional exhaust increases the stated outputs to 220 bhp and 97 lb.ft. Aprilia describes the Obscure as the world’s most powerful type-approved production superbike.

Unlike the Factory, the Obscure replaces semi-active suspension with a fully adjustable Öhlins NIX 43mm fork and a fully adjustable Öhlins TTX piggyback shock. Braking remains Brembo Hypure hardware with monobloc calipers and 330mm discs. The frame retains adjustment for headstock position, engine height and swingarm-pivot location, giving the chassis a broad range of set-up options.

Its standard APRC package provides six riding modes—three road and three track—plus cornering ABS, adjustable traction control, wheelie control, engine-brake control and a quickshifter. Track Pack and Race Pack are included, bringing launch control, a pit limiter, slide control and corner-by-corner electronic settings. A GPS lap timer and fourth-generation Aprilia MIA are standard as well. The appearance is entirely black, mixing gloss and matt surfaces with exposed carbon, a black frame and black swingarm. Each bike has its name and serial number laser-engraved on the headstock. UK pricing and availability have not yet been confirmed.