If you want a serious track tool that is also a brilliant road bike, the Mille R delivers in stonking style. Introduced in 2000, changes from the standard Mille included Öhlins suspension front and rear - with titanium nitrided sliders - and forged wheels that slashed 25% off the weight of the stock hoops. The motor was the same 126bhp 60-degree V-twin.
New damper settings for the suspension and Brembo discs with four separate pads in each caliper, revised steering geometry and bigger inlet valves were just some of the updates for the 2001 Mille R. But things don?t stand still at Aprilia. For 2003 the RSV Mille R is even better - you get a more aerodynamic bike that's faster and comes with the latest radial front brake technology.
The Mille R's aerodynamics have been improved thanks to a new slimmer tail and a front mudguard that ensures smoother air flow around the fork stanchions.
Extensive wind tunnel testing showed that the new mudguard improves aerodynamic penetration and front end stability at high speed, and channels more air through the radiator, with obvious benefits for engine running temperature. Less wind buffeting means less fatigue so that you can maintain your concentration over long rides.
The new, slimmer tail makes the rear end look more streamlined and aggressive. The flatter tail also makes it easier for the rider to throw his leg over the bike when getting on and off. A passenger seat kit is available as an optional. The new seat prevents the passenger from sliding into the rider during hard braking, increasing comfort and safety. The new seat also allows the passenger to sit lower down and not tower over the rider, with clear performance benefits when riding two up.
Like the RSV Mille, the new Mille R also gets a new close ratio gearbox to make the most of the 130 Shire horses from the Aprilia V-twin. Compared to the 2002 gearbox, the 2003 unit has a longer first, second and third gear and closer fifth and sixth gears. The result is even more blistering acceleration with sensational pickup coming out of bends. The new box allows the engine to respond even better in the higher gears, making the bike faster and more fun to ride.
Other trick parts include the hydraulic action clutch, which uses the patented PPC (Pneumatic Power Clutch) system to control rear wheel bounce. The clutch is equipped with progressive action dampers that engage to match the engine torque being delivered at all times, ensuring silky smoothness and eliminating clutch noise at low revs. Thanks to the special design of the clutch plates and to the clutch lubrication system, this unit gives an exceptional progressive action, long working life, and low lever forces.
The box section sloping twin-spar aluminium alloy frame remains unchanged on the Mille R, but the 43mm Öhlins Racing titanium nitride upside down fork is brand new. The fork has been totally redesigned mechanically and hydraulically and has new, longer (+15mm) stanchions and shorter inner legs. This reduces the loads on the two most critical elements of the fork (the sliding bushings and the inner-to-stanchion fixing mechanism). Wheel travel is 120 mm. A double chamber Öhlins Racing steering damper is fitted as standard.
Aprilia developed the radial calliper front brake with Brembo for the 250 GP bikes. They are called radial calliper brakes because of the radial arrangement of the calliper fixing bolts, which are positioned around the radius of the disk.
The advantage is that the calliper is fixed at both ends of the fork's mounting block. This holds the calliper far more rigidly, allowing it to work more precisely and without flexing. The advantage becomes clear if you consider that on traditional callipers the end furthest from the mounting block is normally left "floating"; so that correct pad positioning is left entirely to the calliper's own rigidity. The rear brake is also a Brembo Gold unit, with a 220mm stainless steel disk and twin 32mm piston calliper.
And if you still need a reason to buy a Mille R, just take a look at those gold anodised OZ wheels. Gorgeous. Want one?
