2022 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 Review: BT Moto Flash Impact

2022 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 Review With BT Moto Flash

The 2022 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory, boasting 217 horsepower, is an impressive street-legal superbike overall. Reflecting on the RSV4's historical prowess in delivering both power and an exhilarating riding experience, the 2022 version elevates these attributes even further. It features new, wind tunnel-tested bodywork that provides enhanced lower-drag penetration, updated suspension, and increased torque (92 pound-feet) from its V4 1099cc engine.

Furthermore, this model maintains a lean profile at just 445 pounds, thanks to its construction from welded cast and pressed aluminum, offering an exceptional weight-to-power ratio of 2.1:1. For those questioning the machine's potency, a simple flick of the throttle is enough to dispel any doubts.

We undertook the review of the 2022 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 equipped with our BT Moto ECU Flash tune to push this bike even further—because sometimes, more is indeed better. We were also curious to see how our tuning adjustments addressed some of the frequent critiques from users of the 2022 model. Prepare to be more amazed by the results than we were. Let’s dive into the details.

First Impressions of 2022 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 Stock Tuning

First off, let’s talk about the sound— the 2022 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 has an unmistakable growl that’s pure music to any gearhead’s ears. Absolutely nothing rivals that classic Aprilia soundtrack. But, if we’re keeping it real, the power output in the lower gears didn't quite match up to the hype. In both first and second gear, the performance felt somewhat muted, which was a bit disappointing for a powerhouse like an 1100cc engine. The bike did shut off once due to heating up, something that a few of these bike owners have complained about. Additionally, the throttle response was jerky when easing off the line, and the quick shifter seemed to drag its feet just a little, though that’s somewhat typical with factory settings. The engine braking, however, was spot on—smooth and reliable when you need it most.

Then we pushed the RSV4 Factory 1100 on the high-speed stretches. We went full throttle, zero to one hundred percent, expecting to be blown away. However, the power delivery was underwhelming. During our speed test from 60 to 130 mph, the bike managed it in 5.39 seconds. That's fairly impressive by any standard, but it still felt like the bike had more to give, as if it was holding back its true potential.

To sum it up, the bike felt unexpectedly tame for an 1100cc model, with apparent throttle restrictions and loads of untapped power just begging to be released. There were definitely several aspects ripe for improvement, which made the BT Moto ECU Flash seem even more promising. While the stock form didn't wow us, it was kind of a silver lining because it meant there was plenty of room for improvement with our flash. So, that’s exactly what we did; we took the 2022 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 back to the shop to get it flashed, excited to tap into that latent power and really see what this superbike could do.

2022 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 ECU Flash and Results

After the BT Moto Stage 2 flash, the 2022 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 underwent some noticeable changes that significantly improved its performance. The modification lowered the fan’s activation temperature and enriched the idle mixture, which kept the bike cooler and prevented it from overheating to the point of shutting off. Right off the bat, when hitting the road, the bike showed a marked improvement in first gear, picking up faster and demonstrating a significant increase in power.

We made sure to keep other settings consistent between the pre and post-flash phases—for instance, the wheelie controls remained off throughout. The changes in shifting were immediately noticeable; both downshifting and upshifting became smoother, with the latter still feeling a bit jerky, yet noticeably quicker in kill times.

When testing the top end, the 2022 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory displayed a smooth power delivery. The throttle transitions were fluid, even during turns and high-speed blips, making it feel as though the bike had been reborn with a seamless flow of power across the board. It's astounding how a single flash from BT Moto corrected so many issues, particularly the power output in first gear, which had previously struggled to perform a simple wheelie.

And to quantify the improvements, we ran the 60 through 130 mph test again. The results were impressive; the flash managed to cut nearly half a second off the previous stock tuning time, clocking in at 4.96 seconds. The gains were not just noticeable—they were as clear as day.

Finally, we took the bike to the dyno to measure the actual differences in power output between the baseline stock and the post-flash results, using 91 octane pump gas from California. The dyno test was the definitive proof of the substantial enhancements made by the tuning.

2022 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 Dyno Results

As anticipated, the dyno test yielded some pretty impressive results. The BT Moto Stage 1 flash bumped the wheel horsepower up to 197 WHP, a notable improvement over the stock tuning's 182 WHP. Unlike the stock configuration, which showed a dip in power at the beginning and then picked up, our flashed bike delivered a consistent and smooth power output without any hiccups. 

In summary, the flash alone provided a 15 wheel horsepower increase, smoothing out the previous dip and enhancing power across the board. This simple flash significantly boosted the bike's performance, making it more powerful and responsive at every turn.

And there you have it. Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries about the 2022 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory flash and its results. We’d be happy to answer your questions so that you can enjoy this bike to its full potential—a level most owners who don’t opt for a flash might never experience.