Look: Superbike Aprilia launched in Mumbai!

Here's a first look at the Italian motorcyle giant's Indian debut with a hot new bike!

Indian biking enthusiasts, rejoice. Aprilia has officially arrived.

The fierce new Aprilia RSV4 Superbike made its debut yesterday, at the Mumbai International Motor show 2011.

And to add the buzz, the Italian motorcyle giant had none other than Superbike World Champion and veteran bike racer Max Biaggi grace the occasion.

We give you the lowdown on just what to expect from this mean machine in the following pages.

Watch the video of Aprilia's RSV4 Superbike unveiling here.

The Aprilia RSV4 is built on the same philosophy that is used to produce race bikes. Its narrow V engine, state-of-the-art electronics, lightness and compact design make it a unique winner in terms of a racer bike.

This is the first two-wheeler launched in India to offer three handling modes -- the options are available on the handlebar:

• Track : This option gives you 180 HP at the slightest twist of the throttle!
• Sport: This option can be used for 'Fun on the road', which is a smooth, electronically controlled delivery of power.
• Road: This is for any road conditions and it's especially safe for Mumbai roads. Using this option will reduce the power to 140 HP.

To adapt the bike to Indian conditions, the silencer seems to have been changed and raised, giving it better ground clearance.

The rear tyre is something you won't see on any Indian bike -- to say it's thick is an understatement! The racing size, dual bend 200/55 ZR17 tyre, the company claims, offers better contact on bends and turns.

The body is made up of carbon fibre components, which make it extremely light for a two-wheeler of this size.

More exclusive features like ATC (Aprilia Traction Control), AWC (Aprilia Wheelie Control), ALC (Aprilia Launch Control) and AQS (Aprilia Quick Shift ) are available on the 'Settings' menu, which you can access on the 'Race' screen alongside the speedometer (it makes you feel like you're working on a PC!).

Of course, how well the bike performs on our roads remains to be seen -- we'll know only after a ride!

The model, which will soon be available in India will be the RSV4 Factory SE and it will be priced according to customisable options, in the range of 13 to 18 lacs.

If the RSV4 seems a bit much in terms of size, power and price, Aprilia also had a suprise add-on on display at the motor show -- the timeless Vespa LX 125 scooter.

Although there was no word on the pricing, we learned that the Vespa is set to reach the Indian market within a year and it's probably safe to assume that it will be far more affordable.

For more information on Aprilia bikes and scooters, you'll need to visit Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of Piaggio & C. SpA, Italy.