An Aprilia Shiver 900 would turn my head over a lot of modern bikes, even though it was discontinued around 2020, and it didn't receive many updates in the years preceding that.
I wanted one for as long as I can remember, too, as it just slipped into the A2 regulations in Europe, which I was forced to abide by at the time. But it wasn't meant to be, and when the model was discontinued, I forced myself to forget about it.
But then murmurs of a new Shiver-based concept bike—the Zongshen Cyclone RA9—as a joint venture between Piaggio and Cyclone emerged in 2021. At the time, they were ultimately more of a tease.
But now, it's real—the Shiver 900 is back. Unfortunately, there's a catch.
See, the new Shiver 900 will only be manufactured and sold in China. To make matters worse, it hasn't evolved very much since it was discontinued about five years ago. In fact, you need to really study the new model to spot any differences, but there are some. The new version of the Shiver 900 will feature new side panels, an updated LED version of the original headlight design, and a keyless ignition.
The twin-cylinder motorcycle segment has moved forward a lot since the Shiver 900 was last in dealerships, and it's showing its age. The bike will put out 94 hp and 66 lb-ft of torque, as it did in its last iteration. It will also weigh 485 lbs. It won't be cheap either, not when compared to other bikes available in the Chinese market.
A price tag of 68,800 yuan ($9,500) makes me wonder who's going to buy this bike when you have options like CFMoto's 800NK available for the equivalent of $6,150. The CFMoto also comes with more modern technology, a 100 hp power output, and a 410 pound curb weight. I mean, what the Shiver 900 will have going for it is that it'll be an exotic European brand in a foreign market, and it'll be much cheaper than the other Aprilias offered in China. But is it a good deal, more generally speaking? That, I don't know.
The real question is, if Aprilia brought this slightly updated Shiver 900 to the US, would anyone actually buy one here? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
