Back in 2007, Aprilia presented the Shiver 750. A twin-cylinder motorcycle with almost 100 horsepower for a young, novice audience. In 2017, Aprilia presents the Shiver 900. The target audience, according to Aprilia, should be the same, namely people who are just starting out with motorcycles. But is it possible to give a nearly one-litre engine to beginners? Let's find out together. Until a few years ago, the “almost” litre bikes were only for an expert audience. But times have changed, and this Aprilia, with a beefed-up engine, is part of the new middleweights for a young, perhaps inexperienced audience that wants an easy motorcycle but one that can at the same time also compete with the slightly more powerful ones. When the undersigned started out with motorcycles back in the now-distant 2004: the middleweight bikes were the 600s or, at most, there was the Kawasaki with the Z750. Today, times have changed. Almost all motorcycle manufacturers have increased the displacement of the engines of their middleweights. Kawasaki, for example, fitted a 948 cc engine in its smaller Z. Aprilia followed this trend and sent the little Shiver to the gym. The new engine now has almost 900 cc and unleashes 90 Nm. The horsepower, however, has stayed the same (95 hp at 8750 rpm). One might wonder why the horsepower has not increased. The answer, in our opinion, is that the Shiver must not be too much. For those things there is the Tuono. The Shiver has to be fun without ever being scary. It should only give you thrills but not frighten you.
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Looking at the bike at a standstill, we can tell you that it has not changed much from the last model. Only the exhausts have received some aesthetic retouching that is not quite successful, but which now certainly ensures that the passenger's back does not smell of burnt petrol. The colour display, on the other hand, is stunning. It is practically the same as the Tuono's, except that the information such as the lean angle and the chronometer have disappeared. That is, the things you need on the track. All the other things, which you need on the road, have remained. There is even the average and instantaneous consumption. Quite a lot for a middleweight bike that costs 10250.-. Starting the bike, we can listen to the symphony of the 90-degree V-twin. Euro 4 has taken away a bit of that growl of an enraged lion. But the sound has certainly not become that of a neutered kitten. On the contrary, to tell the truth, the sound is beautiful all the same, only a little less captivating. In the saddle, you immediately understand that it is an Aprilia. The chassis is precise and you feel like you are riding on rails. The bike goes where you want it to go. Precise! The bike will give you a lot of confidence right away. Rarely in my life has it happened to me to feel at ease with a bike straight away. But here I must say that, from the very start, we clicked and became friends. The engine, on the other hand, is what it is. A nice, full-bodied engine. With grit at low revs and steady up to 9000 rpm. Personally, I would have appreciated a few more horsepower, to have that extra rush of adrenaline, but that is not what Aprilia wants. Aprilia wants a bike suited to everyone, one that satisfies a young clientele new to the world of motorcycles. For those who then want that touch of extra engine, after learning the ropes with the Shiver, there is the Tuono. The others will remain satisfied with the Shiver. The Aprilia's consumption is that of a big bike. We managed to use 7 litres per 100 km in mixed riding. Not a little in 2017 for an engine not exactly pushed to the max. Here there is certainly still work to be done. Another flaw seemed to us to be the very high seat. When seated you do not notice it much, but to get on, if you are shorter than 1.75 m, you will struggle a bit. The fact remains, however, that the Aprilia Shiver is really a good bike to start with or also to return to the world of motorcycles. A beautiful everyday bike but one that will also guarantee you the thrills that only a big bike could give.
More information about the new Aprilia Shiver 900 ABS at: www.aprilia.ch
