Aprilia MXV 450 MY 2010
Friday, November 20th, 2009Having dominated the Supermotard World Championship and excelled in enduro too, Aprilia’s revolutionary off-road project has just accepted a really tough challenge: to take its V twin engine to victory in motorcross.
Aprilia MXV 450 MY 2010
Aprilia has said this is the most revolutionary engine design of recent times in the tough, competitive world of motocross. The latest standard bearer for Aprilia’s off-road design concept is the MXV 450. With its compact V twin engine, the Aprilia MXV 450 is the crosser for riders determined to win.
Its clear-cut lines tell you at a glance that you can expect light weight and fantastic build quality. Aprilia’s designers have made full use of the style emblems that define all Aprilia motorcycles to launch a brand new look in motocross motorcycles.
Engine
The 45.2 engine has already accumulated titles and victories in enduro and supermotard racing. Now the same engine has become the heart of the new MXV 450, the first motocross bike in the world to be powered by a twin cylinder engine.
In this dedicated motocross version, the 45.2 engine maintains the unique configuration that has distinguished it from the start. The V angle remains 77°, and the cylinders with wet liners remain integrated in the crankcase. The extremely rational arrangement of the engine’s accessories has made the Aprilia V2 engine one of the most compact V twins in the world, smaller than many singles of similar displacement.
The fundamental innovation of the MXV 450 lies in the availability of two performance levels, made possible by two timing settings and designed to satisfy all possible power delivery needs. The factory default setting is “Big Bang”. The second “Screamer” setting offers more regular firing.
The strong point of the “Big Bang” setting is the exceptional ride ability it confers on the bike. With Big Bang active, the firing gap between the two cylinders is closed up to produce the excellent performance so typical of a twin while also guaranteeing easier control and better traction, two features that riders are bound to appreciate over slippery surfaces.
The “Screamer” setting requires a minor modification to the engine and a new mapping. With Screamer active, the firing gap is the standard gap for a 77° V twin. “Screamer” delivers the maximum engine performance suitable for expert riders.
The sophisticated electronic engine management system also introduces a number of motocross firsts. The Dell’Orto fuel injection system with 38 mm throttle bodies is managed by a programmable ECU that lets you switch between two different mappings at the touch of a button on the handlebars.
The “full power” mapping is for use in conditions of good grip while the “soft” mapping delivers smoother power for use on more difficult surfaces. One click is all that it takes to obtain exactly the performance level you need.
Important opportunities are afforded by the Service and Programming system.
In conjunction with the programming cable supplied with the bike, dedicated software allows you to:
- load mapping updates (available from the website) into the ECU;
- calibrate the “end of line” setting of the throttle position sensor (TPS);
- within permitted limits, adjust carburation and timing to align engine characteristics with your own riding style.
The engine’s amazing light weight is the result of radical choices in materials. The valves are in titanium, the crankcase in aluminium silicon alloy, and all covers are in magnesium. In fact, everything about the engine is designed for minimum weight in conjunction with maximum strength and reliability.
All design solutions on the uncompromising MXV 450 have been dictated by the need to achieve the highest possible level of performance while extending the bike’s range of use.
The under-seat exhaust, for example, features an all-new layout for better motocross performance with more torque at lower revs.
Valve gear based on a single overhead cam and four titanium valves per cylinder gives the best possible compromise between compactness, light weight and performance.
Thanks to its advanced technology the 45.2 engine is extremely civilised and silent running even in this motocross version, and complies easily with FIM rules for noise emissions (94 dB threshold).
The MXV 450 affords beautifully easy access for maintenance (plugs, oil filter, air filter), and boasts extended maintenance intervals, far above the average.
The engine has a dry sump lubrication system with the oil tank integrated inside the crankcase. Elimination of the external oil tank and its connecting pipes has led to a further reduction in weight.
The starter motor has been eliminated for the same reason. Starting is by kick-start only in order to minimise weight.
The salient specifications of the 45.2 engine on the new MXV:
- Electronic fuel injection.
- Dry sump lubrication with the oil tank integrated inside the crankcase. Separate lubrication for gearbox and engine to keep oil efficient for longer.
- Single overhead cam, titanium valves.
- Single-piece crankshaft.
- Cylinders integrated in crankcase, wet liners.
- Choice of “Big Bang” and “Screamer” ignition settings.
- “Hard/soft” mappings selectable from the handlebars.
- Electronic stepper motor idling control.
- Maximum engine speed 12,500 rpm.
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i ride at clubman level and have built and ridden my own bike but respect and love the high build quality and willingness to built a unique v twin off roader. hopefully , soon , i will be in a posotion to buy a new bike and when this time arrives, i will be looking for my nearestr Aprilia dealer. Many Thanks . Ian Wall