2009 Aprilia RSV 4 uncovered at last, has crazy triple headlight

This is the first shot of the road-going 2009 Aprilia RSV 4. Taken on a camera phone at the official unveiling in Rome, it shows for the first time what the Aprilia RSV 4 you’ll be able to buy will look like. And man does the 1000cc V4 SBK homologation-special look cool.
The first thing you’ll notice is the bizarre, and quite frankly ugly, triple headlight arrangement. Where you’d usually find a center-mounted air intake, there’s instead a big, honkin’ central headlight equipped with what appears to be LEDs. More traditional and more attractive main beams supplement this central headlight. Underneath those lights you’ll find the air intakes.

Also apparent is the use of the same USD Öhlins forks and radial Brembo monoblock calipers as the RSV 1000 R Factory. We’re kinda disappointed that Aprilia didn’t go with the more exotic FGR 800 SBK-spec forks (as used on the rival 2009 BMW S1000RR), but this decision points to the RSV 4 being priced in the more attainable $20,000 range.

We also like the crazy finned tailpiece, which points the RSV 4 being a single seater. Although it is possible that it will use an RSV-style removable pillion pad.

We still don’t know official power, weight and other figures, but we’ll hopefully be able to bring you those tomorrow morning.