[motorcycle.com] - 2018 Aprilia Shiver 900 First Ride Review

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2018 Aprilia Shiver 900

Editor Score: 84.00%Engine 17.5/20Suspension/Handling 13.0/15 Transmission/Clutch 7.5/10Brakes 7.5/10 Instruments/Controls4.5/5 Ergonomics/Comfort 9.00/10 Appearance/Quality 8.5/10Desirability 8.0/10Value 8.5/10Overall Score84/100When Aprilia invited Motorcycle.com to the press introduction of the Shiver 900, I thought, hadn’t that model been announced at EICMA 2016 as an upcoming 2017 model? If so, the model had been selling for a while already, right? It had. But as is typical, those lucky Europeans got it first and we had to wait. After the bikes made their journey across the ocean, braving Hurricane Harvey, and worse yet, meeting homologation, the new 900s arrived state-side. A few weeks later, the introduction of the new 2018 Aprilia Shiver 900 would commence.

Taking place in Ventura, California, journalists from all over the U.S. and Canada convened in the coastal city to check out the new 900s from Noale we had all so eagerly been awaiting. With the new Shiver having an engine enlarged from 750 to 900 and revised styling, we were all excited to get some seat time to bring our readers a first ride review.

Well, it’s here now America.


*After having owned my personal Tuono for a few years now, I was happy to have a chance to test out a completely different platform from my own big naked… motorcycle.

Aprilia claims a 480-pound curb weight, which coupled with a low seat-height, will be manageable for most.


The 2018 Aprilia Shiver 900 is a looker. The amount of detail that has gone into the design from an engineering standpoint to pure aesthetic is pretty fantastic. Almost to the point of being reminiscent of another Italian marque known for its “motorcycle art.”

Hi-Tech Silver is the only color option in the U.S. for the 2018 Aprilia Shiver 900.


Aprilia is a brand that is too little known in the U.S. of A, if you ask me. While speaking to Aprilia’s Brand Manager, Patrick Flynn, he related a story about a gentleman walking up to him at a gas station while he was putting break-in miles on these motorcycles, and attempting to pronounce: “Ape-pril-ee-ya.” Flynn gently corrected him on the correct pronunciation and informed the man Aprilias are Italian motorcycles. That was all he needed to hear. “Aw, yeah? Nice!” With 54 championships and the V-4 platform we all love here at MO, I wish more motorcyclists in the U.S. had access to Aprilia, however, it seems the most commonly cited issue is the company’s relatively small dealer network.

A beautiful day to ride motorcycles… on the Ventura pier.


The offset rear shock includes a standard ring nut for adjusting preload and a screw-type adjustment for rebound damping.


To put Aprilia’s upgraded Shiver 900 to the test, the Aprilia staff led us out toward one of my favorite roads in southern California, Highway 33. If you haven’t been, Highway 33, north of Ojai, includes a great mix of tight turns, fast sweepers, and gorgeous*scenery as it snakes its way through the Los Padres National Forest. This road is a “must ride” for any motorcyclist.*

Aprilia’s new 896cc, 90-degree, V-Twin delivers tractable power, evenly above 3000 rpm all while wearing a stylish red valve cover.


Aprilia is using the same 896cc 90-degree V-Twin motor to power the new Shiver, as well as the new Dorsoduro (but that’s a story for another a few days from now), which is why both models were included in this introduction. The previous Shiver (and Dorsoduro) were 750s and left many journalists and consumers alike, wishing for something more, so that’s what Aprilia did.

While the Dorsoduro 900 is a bit more fun in the canyons, the Shiver 900 offers a more rounded set of skills.


The new V-Twin is claimed to produce 93.8 hp at 8750 rpm, with 66.3 lb-ft of torque at 6500. In order to punch the engine out to 896cc, Aprilia simply lengthened the stroke from 56.4mm to 67.4mm while keeping the bore the same at 92mm. While I might’ve preferred a little more torque deep down low in the rev-range, the new powerplant makes good, fun, usable power throughout most of the rpm range, but it’s happier if you stay away from real low on the rpm spectrum.

Don’t let the word versatility fool you into thinking the Shiver is completely utilitarian. It works just as well around town as it does in the canyons.


The engine is said to have revised its crankshaft geometry and balancing to deliver a smoother ride. It felt pretty smooth to me, so good job, Aprilia. Other changes to the Twin include a lighter piston with a new coating to reduce friction, a reinforced piston pin, semi-dry crankcase with reed valves controlling oil movement, and new double-jet fuel injectors which spray at a higher pressure for better air/fuel atomization. Another big upgrade we are happy to see is the inclusion of the Marelli 7SM ECU, which was brought over from the V4 platform and now works as the brains of the Shiver’s operations, enabling the new TC management and streamlining electrical systems while shedding a claimed one pound of weight.

I often find myself gravitating toward motorcycles on which I can barely touch one foot down flat, which often yields desirable legroom, though the 32-inch seat height of the Shiver 900 was a welcome comfort.


Rider interface with the Shiver is quite nice in most respects, however, there are a few nits to pick. The new ride-by-wire throttle feels great, although actual fueling can be jerky at low rpm. The bend on the handlebar puts the user in a comfortable rider triangle, while the 32-inch comfy seat allowed my 30-inch inseam to flat foot comfortably on both sides. Rider and passenger footpegs include rubber inserts to quell vibration. The gearbox feels solid with tight tolerances resulting in positive shifts, however, the amount of pressure needed to downshift was surprising. Aprilia says the hydraulic clutch pull has been reduced by 15% by revamping the clutch design and friction material. This must have been a welcome improvement over the previous iteration because I felt the Shiver 900’s clutch pull was still on the heavier side.

Strong braking power is there, even if sometimes you have to grab a firm handful of brake lever to access it.


Braking is tasked to dual 320mm floating discs, grabbed by 4-piston calipers fed by steel-braided brake lines, while the rear uses a 240mm wave rotor and single-piston caliper with steel-braided lines. No Brembos here, likely to keep costs down, but the brakes are acceptably adequate. ABS is, of course, standard, as all European motorcycles have been since 2016. The front brakes initially felt a bit vague, but some of the motorcycles had only less than 200 miles on them, and after more hard miles, I think it was an issue of the pads having not bedded-in entirely. Initial bite improved once they were heated up.

In yet another display of practicality and/or versatility, Aprilia opted to use Pirelli Angel STs (120/70ZR-17 in the front and 180/55ZR-17 in the rear) which offer a good combination of grip and mileage.


Suspension on the Shiver 900 is handled by a new inverted 41mm Kayaba fork up front which is said to be approximately one pound lighter and offers preload and rebound adjustment and 4.7 inches of wheel travel. In the rear Aprilia is using a Sachs monoshock with adjustable preload and rebound damping with 5.1 inches of travel. The only time that I had wished for higher performing suspension was in fast, bumpy sweepers.

The 4.3-inch TFT display offers easily legible information. An auto-contrasting function changes background colors from white to black based on a light sensor.


The new TFT display and user controls are easy enough to figure out, with the only tricky bit being that, to switch ride modes, you press the starter button once the engine is running to toggle between Sport, Touring, and Rain. Traction control offers three levels as well as Off, with 1 being the least intrusive. ABS is simply on or off and only accessible to change while the bike is in neutral. Ride modes are adjustable while riding, having only close the throttle to engage while TC is adjustable on the fly. The Aprilia Multimedia Platform is also an available option which will allow the rider to sync with his or her smartphone for a multitude of options, including displaying incoming/active calls and any music being streamed, among other functions.

The 2018 Aprilia Shiver 900 feels like it would be at home with just about any type of riding you could throw at it. Commuting, canyons, blasting through the city, you name it, the Shiver can do it.


Circling back to some of my previous comments, the 2018 Aprilia Shiver 900 looks great. From the red accents of the steel-trellis/aluminum frame to the red valve covers on the engine and “Be A Racer” graphics on the new, lightweight, three-spoke wheels, the new Shiver has been designed with attention to detail.

Those nifty caps on the tail pipes disperse exhaust laterally for passenger comfort and also add to the bike’s soundtrack in a great way.


As with the new wheels, not all of the interesting design elements are solely aesthetic. The caps on the under-tail exhaust serve an engineering purpose rather than just looking cool and emitting a more exciting exhaust note. They have been designed to improve passenger comfort by redirecting gas flow out of the exhaust to the sides rather than directly behind the passenger in an attempt to evacuate the hot, humid gases from the aerodynamic air depression created behind a passenger while riding. Happy passenger, happy life? Or something like that.

We were told the 4-gallon gas tank will yield approximately 150 miles, which would give about 37 mpg. Your mileage may vary.


The 2018 Aprilia Shiver 900 puts great usable power from its new 896cc V-Twin motor into a complete package that will be comfortable for most riders across a fair range of sizes. I did not hear a single journalist complain about the Shiver being at all uncomfortable. At $9,399 it also stays within range of its potential Japanese rivals like the Kawasaki Z900 at $8,799 (w/ABS) while being a fair amount less than a Ducati Monster 821 with an MSRP of $11,695.



The Shiver 900 is Aprilia’s interpretation of a versatile, smooth, comfortable motorcycle that maintains that sexy Italian panache. While our ride included only a tiny bit of freeway and city, with most being had on winding canyon roads, I can back up Aprilia’s claims for the flexibility and charm of the Shiver and am sure just about anyone could enjoy this motorcycle while putting it to task with many different types of riding.



2018 Aprilia Shiver 900 SpecificationsEngine Type90-degree V-Twin, 4-stroke, Four valves per cylinder, liquid-cooledBore and stroke92.0 x 67.4 mmCapacity896 ccHorsepower (claimed)93.8 hp at 8,750 rpmTorque (claimed)66.3 lb-ft at 6,500 rpmFuel systemMarelli 7SM Double-jet fuel injectors and latest generation Ride-by-Wire engine management. Choice of three different engine maps selectable by the rider with bike in motion: S (Sport),*T (Touring), R (Rain)Final DriveChainFront SuspensionInverted Kayaba 41 mm fork body, adjustable preload and rebound damping. 120 mm wheel travelRear SuspensionSachs monoshock absorber with adjustable preload and rebound damping. 130mm wheel travelFront Brakes320 mm floating double disc. Radial mounted fourpiston calipers with steel braided brake linesRear brake240 mm wave stainless steel disc. Single piston caliper with steel braided brake linesWheels and TiresCast aluminum; Front: 3.5”x17” Rear: 6.00”x17” Radial tires. Front: 120/70ZR-17 Rear: 180/55ZR-17Saddle height32.0 inchesCurb Weight480 lbsFuel Capacity4.0 gallons2018 Aprilia Shiver 900 First Ride Review appeared first on Motorcycle.com.



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