Aprilia SHIVER 750 SL 2015

Not easy for the Shiver to assert its arguments in the face of competition that has renewed itself. The SL 750 has very good arguments to make but the last evolution dates from 2010 – the adoption of brake discs with petals, a handlebars with different handlebars, the removal of the beautiful footrests for more conventional elements ( those of the rear are ugly), redesigned tank scoops, slightly sportier ergonomics, a seat down 5 mm and the graft of a small racy fork that dresses the optical unit.

750 twin roadsters, there aren’t many on the market. Ducati tried it out with its 750 monster … with mixed success. With the 821 Monster, the story is quite different. The 750 Shiver must put forward serious arguments to find a place among the stars that are the Suzuki 750 GSR, Triumph 675 Street Triple, MV-Agusta 675 and 800 Brutale, Yamaha MT-09 and the ubiquitous Kawasaki Z.

1st super important technical criterion, the engine. It is crucial in this category that a mill is rich in sensations or provided with enough power to have fun while ensuring performance. With its very compact 90 ° twin, the Shiver promises us both. The twin-cylinder is equipped with all modern technology (double ignition, double ACT, multi-valves, liquid cooling, super small size, super-square dimensions, half-chain, half-gear distribution), and even a management control of the gas handle. Surprising on this type of machine when it came out, and certainly a plus when it comes to exploiting the full potential of this engine.

Knowing that a Gladius put out 72 horsepower and that a Monster 796 was sending 87 nags, you might have thought that the Shiver’s 75 and a half would give you in the 80-85 guns. Lost ! Aprilia is defending its qualities as an engine manufacturer here with a superb 95 horsepower. Consider, it’s almost as many watts as an old Ducati 748; and with 8.25 mkg, this carton is better equipped with torque than the late 749 … and most of the 750s on the market. Here is a competitor of choice for the Z 800, especially as its chassis seems to live up to the claims of its engine..

The part-cycles of modern roadsters have definitely nothing to envy to those of hypersports. Fifteen years ago, the number of motorcycles equipped with an inverted fork were barely more than the number of points on the license. As for the radial fixing brake calipers, we only saw them in GP 500. Today, all sports cars have this equipment; and fashion has taken hold of almost all roadsters. The 750 Shiver is part of this clan. Its chassis is designed to offer more than very good: inverted fork and radial calipers (as mentioned above), tubular section frame connected to aluminum plates, reinforced swingarm … It looks good.

It is better for Aprilia that the performance of the Shiver is flawless, because the aesthetic appeal of this roadster makes our mouths water. We feel that it worked in the design offices. Picked up, the scarab look, the cropped hips, the stylized rump with escaped Doom exhausts, the Shiver did not choose to be wise. Good thing – with this kind of engine, we don’t want to be.