Could This Game-Changing Superbike Tech Make Its Way to Everyday Motorcycles?

While “trickle-down economics” is not exactly supported by empirical data, trickle-down tech is a different story.

That’s especially true when it comes to motoring, as I was reminded on a recent trip to Harley-Davidson’s Product Development Center.

Aprilia

As the brand has gotten back into racing over the past few years thanks to King of the Baggers, it has invested heavily in high-end bike tech, much of which eventually filters down to production motorcycles.

Along similar lines, racing-focused Italian brand Aprilia recently introduced some pretty significant electronic rider aids into a couple of its top sportbikes, the RSV4 and Tuono V4.

The new tech has huge future ramifications even for those of us who don’t have racing leathers hanging in our closets.

High (speed) tech

Part of Aprilia’s updated Race Pack, these rider aids emerge (naturally) from MotoGP-derived tech. 

Key elements are a GPS module, ride-by-wire throttle and six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), which combine for some of the most sophisticated predictive tech ever to appear on two wheels.

For best results, riders can pair their smartphones with their bikes using Aprilia’s MIA app.

Then, like anti-lock brakes on steroids, the Race Pack uses onboard sensors and software algorithms to anticipate loss of control and apply pre-set engine braking, traction control and wheelie control to boost not only performance and safety but also rider confidence. 

The system is, in the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800, “a learning computer.” 

Aprilia

Designed to study your riding style, it samples data every 2 milliseconds to process factors such as lean angle, yaw rate, throttle position and gear selection, then use this info to pre-arm cornering ABS, traction control and wheelie mitigation before a slide even begins.

Beyond ease of use and safety, you can even customize settings for the track, like dialing up the corrective protection on tight turns and letting it ride on the straightaways while you put the pedal to the metal. 

The overall effect, according to Aprilia, is that the 2025 bikes have a 6% lower drag coefficient and 8% lower wheelie tendency than the 2024 models do — translating to ever-faster lap times, of course. 

Everyday applications

If your eyes glazed over a bit reading that first section, I don’t blame you. For a lot of us, phrases like “yaw rate” only increase our yawn rate.

However, as I referenced at the beginning, it seems likely that the basic ingredients of this tech could eventually be carried over to bikes that are more at home on urban streets and wide-open highways than going around in circles.

Aprilia

Just as modern cars and SUVs are now festooned with nanny features like lane departure warnings and parking assistance, this stuff could become standard. 

On the upside, it could help reduce the negative effects of rider fatigue, inexperienced handling and unexpected road hazards. 

On the downside, it could increase that scourge of the four-wheeled world, distracted driving.

Aprilia

My sense is that it’s only a matter of time before these features start popping up in higher-end roadsters, baggers and more.

I only hope that we as motorcyclists can turn the tech on without turning our brains off. 

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