Aprilia RSV4 Obscure Spe.Ed.: 500 Units, 220 hp (Nov 2026)

Aprilia has presented the RSV4 Obscure Spe.Ed., a limited, numbered edition of 500 examples of its RSV4 superbike, at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. The Piaggio Group press release is dated 3 November 2026. The company says the bike keeps the RSV4's 220 hp V4 and is lighter than before, with a running weight of 201 kg, carbon fibre wheels and a pair of aerodynamic "Leg Wings" borrowed from its MotoGP prototype. As of 5 November 2026, neither source read for this article gives a price or an on-sale date.

What Aprilia has officially said

In the Piaggio Group release, Aprilia calls the RSV4 "the world's most powerful production superbike" and describes the Obscure Spe.Ed. as built for track performance on technology developed by Aprilia Racing in MotoGP. The release says carbon fibre is used for much of the bodywork and for the wheels, bringing the weight to 201 kg in running order.

Fitting the full ART (Aprilia Racing Technology) exhaust and the carbon SC Project end can, both sold from Aprilia Racing's accessory catalogue, lowers the stated weight to 196 kg. Those parts are accessories, so the 196 kg figure is not the weight of the bike as it is shown.

Key figures

• Production: a numbered run of 500 examples
• Engine: 1,099 cc V4, 220 hp at 13,000 rpm and 127 Nm at 10,800 rpm, according to the Italian outlet MotorBox
• Weight: 201 kg in running order; 196 kg with the full ART exhaust and carbon end can (Aprilia)
• Wheels: carbon fibre
• Aerodynamics: carbon Leg Wings, described by Aprilia as new to the class
• Suspension: mechanically adjustable Öhlins, a TTX shock and a NIX fork
• Finish: all black, with the name and serial number laser-engraved on the steering plate, according to MotorBox

The Leg Wings

Aprilia says the Leg Wings are already used on its RS-GP MotoGP prototype and are meant to create downforce without hurting handling. The release says the carbon wings are part of an aerodynamic package developed in the wind tunnel. MotorBox adds that they raise rear downforce by 20 percent and that the seat and passenger pegs are removable. That 20 percent figure appears in the MotorBox article only, not in the press release text read for this article.

Aprilia states that the Obscure Spe.Ed. brings Leg Wings to the superbike class for the first time. This article reports that as the company's statement and has not checked it against other makers' bikes.

How it differs from the RSV4 Factory

MotorBox says the Obscure is 3 kg lighter than the RSV4 Factory and that its carbon wheels are more than 2 kg lighter than the Factory's aluminium ones. On suspension, the release says Aprilia chose mechanically adjustable Öhlins units because they suit the "customisation requirements" of riders during races.

Electronics and road use

According to MotorBox, the bike has a six-axis IMU, ride-by-wire throttle, six riding modes (three road, three track), cornering ABS, the APRC package with traction and wheelie control, an electronic quickshifter, and the Track Pack and Race Pack. MotorBox also says it is homologated for road use. These details come from that article and not from the press release text read here.

Also in the same release

The same Piaggio Group release lists other Aprilia items at EICMA 2026: an RS 660 Phillip Island Tribute special edition, a new SXR 125 entry scooter, updated SR GT 125 and 200 scooters, and new 2027 graphics for the Factory models called aPRC Backbone, a red-on-black design inspired by the electronic signals in Aprilia's control system.

This article is dated 5 November 2026 and is not updated afterwards. Check Aprilia's own website for prices and availability.

Sources

• Piaggio Group takes centre stage at EICMA with all its brands, Piaggio Group press release (3 Nov 2026)
• Aprilia RSV4 Obscure, la superbike da 220 CV e solo 500 esemplari, MotorBox

Image credits: Cover photo: 2024 Aprilia RSV4 by Calreyn88, CC0. Pictures from Wikimedia Commons.