For 2009, Aprilia decided to enlarge its success area from supermoto (SXV) and enduro (RXV) to motocross with the new MXV model. Don’t be fooled by the bike’s similar looks as Aprilia has spent a lot of time modifying the platform in order to prove efficient for motocross racing. The frame and fuel tank suffered radical changes while the engine has been worked on from airbox to exhaust.
In order to withstand to racing demands, the frame was strengthened and engineers made sure that it would lose a few kilos on its way to the bike. The fuel tank now found its place well down into the frame and further back, significantly contributing to a lower and centralized gravity center.
Modifications to the frame and gas tank also lead to repositioning the airbox in front of the tank, making it easier for the filer to be changed.
In what concerns the engine, that is used as a stressed member of the chassis, but, at its base, remains the same 77° v-twin which, for 2009, features a kickstarter instead of the starter motor. Lightened and able to rev as high as 12,500rpm, the engine oil is kept separately from the one in the clutch, allowing for extending servicing intervals.
The ECU, housed by the airbox, now features Full and Soft Power engine maps. Full Power means just that, while Soft Power implies a more docile character, perfect for accommodating with the bike in those first runs or during capricious weather.
Engine retuning for more low-to-mid rpm grunt was done through the titanium exhaust system, which, by the way, you will miss if you blink.
