Aprilia releases latest ‘X’ bike: the 2027 RSV4 X 250TH
Launched at the Austin MotoGP round, the sixth generation of Aprilia’s uber-exotic ‘X’ bikes is a 240bhp RSV4 superbike with Brembo MotoGP carbon brakes, forged magnesium rims and track-only design.
Aprilia had an amazing 2026 American MotoGP in Austin, Texas. The firm managed to win the Sprint race and took the top two places in the main race, with Jorge Martin winning the sprint round and Marco Bezzecchi finishing first in the main race (Martin was second).
And the firm also released this – the Aprilia X 250TH. It’s the sixth special ‘X’ bike from the firm following RSV4 and Tuono V4 machines released in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2025, and follows the same basic theme.
This year it’s an RSV4, and the ‘250TH is a nod to the anniversary of American independence in 1776, which the country is celebrating this year. That’s also reflected in the paint job – a loud stars and stripes scheme in bright red white and blue – and in the allocation of bikes: 25 of the 30 bikes being built are earmarked for the US market with just five available elsewhere.
The headline on the Aprilia story was that this would be the first production bike with carbon brakes, but they were gazumped a bit by Ducati, whose Superleggera Centenario Panigale V4 not only has ceramic/carbon stoppers, but is also a fully road legal machine.
Nevertheless, the Aprilia is fully kitted out with similar kit: 340mm carbon-silicon carbide discs, with carbon pads and monobloc calipers, complete with cooling fins. They’re not the same though: the Aprilia looks to have pure racing kit with plain discs, while the Ducati has drilled discs and GP4-HY calipers, which are designed for road use, and presumably more suitable for use in wet conditions and the like.
Whatever the exact spec, Aprilia says its brake discs are half the weight of steel parts, while the carbon pads mean about one-third less weight than sintered pads. At the same time, it ensures consistent performance even in conditions of extreme use on track.
Also track-biased is the fairing, with extreme aerodynamics derived from the RS-GP MotoGP machine. The aerodynamics package features advanced, MotoGP-spec solutions which include seat wings – Aprilia Racing proprietary technology – and tail wings, which appeared for the first time on the RS-GP25.
The combination of seat wings and tail wings adds aerodynamic load during braking on corners, as well as the rear wing, the under wing and the cornering wings. Another distinctive element is the carbon structural saddle support, made by PAN Compositi, with “sandwich structure” processing.
This is a specific way of placing the carbon fibres in order to make it extremely lightweight while still maintaining rigidity. The Aprilia X 250TH also includes an advanced ground-effect aerodynamic system, developed and patented by Aprilia Racing. The design of the side fairings generates downforce when the bike is leaned over, increasing grip and stability in cornering.
All the bodywork is made in carbon by PAN Compositi with the same procedures used for the MotoGP bikes. The vertical downforce in a straight line is five times as much as the stock Aprilia RSV4, increasing stability and reducing wheelies, whereas in a bend, there is three times as much load, giving even more tyre grip on corners.
The engine is almost mundane, as much as a 240bhp 1100 V-4 can be. It’s a WSBK spec unit, the 1099 cc 65° V4 engine developed by the Racing Department to make 240bhp at 13,750 rpm (redline is 14,100 rpm), with maximum torque of 131 Nm at 11,750 rpm. This performance is achieved thanks to a targeted evolution of the V4 engine which includes increased compression ratio, a Sprint Filter high permeability racing air filter with racing spec airbox intake trumpets and STM dry clutch.
Completing the package is the SC Project titanium MotoGP replica double-exhaust, designed to maximise performance and give it a racing sound.
The chassis is of the same ilk – proper high-end but fairly conventional, with an aluminium double trellis frame, plus conventional non-electronic Öhlins race suspension with gas pressurised forks. The setup is completed by forged magnesium Marchesini wheels, shod with the Pirelli slicks used in the World Superbike Championship.
The price for all this? A heady $150,000 USD for the 25 bikes aimed at the United States, whereas the remaining five bikes will be dedicated to other markets, including Europe, at a price of €115,000 + VAT. Online booking is possible now in the dedicated FACTORYWORKS.APRILIA.COM area at https://factoryworks.aprilia.com.
In addition to the limited and numbered edition of the Aprilia X 250TH, buyers will also receive a Yashi laptop with the software to manage the ECU parameters and electronic strategies, a mat, a personalized bike cover, RCB titanium front and rear stands, and IRC tire covers.
Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing Ceo said about the new bike: “Once again, Aprilia Racing introduces an exclusive product which is even closer to a MotoGP bike. The Aprilia X 250TH is clearly an item for true connoisseurs – something unrivalled. Over the years, the X bikes have become highly sought after for both collectors and for those seeking to experience a thrill that is extremely close to what MotoGP riders feel.”
And Fabiano Sterlacchini, Aprilia Racing technical director added, “The Aprilia X 250TH is another great Aprilia Racing creation in which, like with the previous editions, we paid painstaking attention to the aspects that set it apart, starting withthehighlysophisticated aerodynamicsreminiscentoftheMotoGPbikeconcepts, all the way to numerous engine upgrades, with an increase in power compared to the previous ones.
The truly particular aspect of this project, however, is the cutting-edge braking system. The carbon discs allow extreme braking without stressing the braking system. This is MotoGP-derived technology, partly utilized in Formula 1 as well, and it represents an entirely new feature that will allow braking performance never before seen on a bike sold to the general public.”
Aprilia RSV4 X 250TH Tech Highlights
Base bike: RSV4 1100 Factory 2026 built by Aprilia Racing, non-street legal, modified as follows
Engine: V4 65°, 1099 cc with SBK racing specifications
Exhaust: SC-Project Titanium Full-System Exhaust MotoGP Replica 4×2 with balance pipe between cylinder banks
Airbox: MY25 throttle body and dedicated intake trumpets
Air filter: High permeability racing – MotoGP technology – Sprint Filter
ECU: APX Aprilia Racing with specific settings and GPS system
Radiators (water and oil): Oversized Racing – SBK technology
Transmission: Titanium rear sprocket and lighter front sprocket by PBR (designed by Aprilia Racing)
Chain: Regina Chain 520
Claimed maximum power at crankshaft: 240bhp@13,750rpm
Claimed maximum torque at crankshaft: 131Nm@11,750rpm
Engine redline: 14,100rpm
Wheels: Marchesini in forged Mg M7R GENESI (front 17’’x3.5’’ – rear 17’’x6’’)
Brakes: Brembo Carbon-Carbon, with 340mm diameter high mass carbon discs. MotoGP configuration, carbon brake pads – MotoGP configuration and nickel-plated billet aluminium caliper with cooling fins
Front suspension: Öhlins FKR pressurized cartridge with mechanical control. Adjustable in spring preload, hydraulic (with dedicated setup) compression and rebound damping. Fork bottoms designed by Aprilia Racing, fully CNC-machined, for MotoGP-derived brake callipers with 108 mm spacing.
Rear suspension: Öhlins TTX mechanically managed piggyback derived from MotoGP, fully adjustable in: spring pre-load, wheelbase and hydraulic compression (with dedicated setup) and rebound damping.
Steering damper: Öhlins, adjustable
Clutch: Dry clutch by STM
Upper triple-clamp: Racing, lighter, CNC machined, with limited edition number
Handlebar switches: Racing by Jetprime
Clutch lever: Racing by Domino
Footrest kit: Racing, adjustable, by Spider
Fairing: MotoGP specifications, full carbon by PAN Compositi
Aero package: Carbon front and under wing, cornering wings, tail wings, seat wings as from MotoGP, by PAN Compositi
Seat support: Structural carbon seat support, by PAN Compositi
Mudguard and chain guard: Full carbon
Livery: “Stars and Stripes”
CNC parts: Fuel tank cap, engine crankcase and brake lever protections, by Spider
Tyres: Pirelli Slick Diablo SBK front SC-1 125/70 rear SC-X 200/65
Dry weight: 165kg
Supplied equipment: Yashi laptop, personalized mat and bike cover, titanium rear and front stands by RCB, tire warmers by IRC