Winston Yeh, front man of the Taiwanese powerhouse Rough Crafts, is best known for his brooding Harley-Davidson customs. But he’s just as happy to work on other makes and models, and has turned his hand to everything from the BMW R nineT to the Ducati Monster. His latest project might be Rough Crafts’ boldest donor yet—an Aprilia RSV4 Factory.
As a businessman, Winston’s open to almost anything. As a custom designer, though, some platforms leave him less enthused—modern superbikes in particular.
“Modern, high-tech race bikes present extra challenges when it comes to custom builds,” he explains. “They’re usually super tightly packed with components, and everything is electrically controlled. So it’s easy for something to go wrong if you try to simplify anything.”
“When a customer called and said he wanted me to customize an Aprilia RSV4 Factory, I tried to convince him otherwise—but it was too late. He told me, ‘I’ve already ordered the bike, and when the paperwork is done, the salesperson will deliver it straight to your shop.’ So I said, ‘Okay, let’s do it!’”
Winston and his regular crew of collaborators had their work cut out for them. The brief was to turn the Aprilia RSV4 Factory into a neo-futuristic streetfighter with all the shadowiness of a Rough Crafts special—without screwing up any of its sophisticated systems.
The Factory version of the RSV4 boasts an output of 220 hp and 127 Nm, with a quick-shifter, a TFT display, and a smorgasbord of electronic rider aids. It also sports electronically adjustable Öhlins suspension at both ends—one feature that Rough Crafts’ client was adamant about keeping. To complicate matters further, most of the Aprilia’s components were so tightly packed together that relocating them was out of the question.
The solution was to denude the RSV4 of all its OEM body panels, and then dress it in handmade parts that would both nail the dynamic look that the project called for and hide its plumbing. “Rough Crafts’ style is known for being super compact, and I wanted to keep it that way,” says Winston. “But to create a street bike with clean lines means exposing a lot of subframe stuff.”
Winston roped in JZO Crafts to fabricate the bike’s new aluminum bodywork. The subframe is now flanked by a pair of handmade side covers, with a sporty tailpiece perched higher up. The fuel tank is a one-off, as are the front fairings that, once again, add style while protecting vital components.
In typical Rough Crafts style, the bodywork has a sculpted vibe with scallops on the tank and tail. Up front, a 3D-printed shroud hosts a pair of LED projectors while extending down over the forks. It was designed to accommodate the Aprilia’s steering damper, which forms part of the bike’s electronic suspension system.
Neat details abound. Louvres on the side panels add a classy touch, while Koso LED turn signals add discreet lighting at both ends. (The rear turn signals double up as taillights.)
Tucked behind the headlight nacelle is a set of billet aluminum yokes from MAPD in Taiwan. They host a pair of Rough Crafts risers, gripping CNC Racing handlebars. Rough Crafts upgraded the bars with Brembo controls, a Jetprime kill switch, and a CNC Racing brake lever guard, and relocated the TFT dashboard.
Winston takes every opportunity to upgrade as much of a bike’s running gear as possible—when the budget allows, naturally. Complementing the Aprilia’s top-shelf Öhlins components are carbon fiber wheels from BST, wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa rubber. MotoGP-derived Brembo GP4-MS (front) and GP2-SS (rear) calipers grip MotoMaster discs, maximizing the RSV4’s stopping power.
The Aprilia’s exhaust system is a well-judged cocktail of aftermarket and bespoke items. The four-into-one header assembly and stubby muffler, both titanium, are from SC-Project. A custom-made section connects the former to the latter.
Dubbed ‘RoughSV4,’ the Aprilia is finished in Rough Crafts’ tried and true formula of carbon fiber textures and menacing black finishes. SFC Simon Fiber Craft created the heavy-weave carbon veneers, Rover Works added the paint and gold-leaf striping, and 2 Abnormal Sides produced a pair of jewel-like tank badges. Finally, Chirui Leather Custom trimmed the saddle, while TriRoad Moto Co. lent a hand on the final assembly.
From sophisticated superbike to white-knuckle streetfighter, RoughRSV4 is another home run from Taiwan’s finest. Not only does it look spectacular, but it gives the RSV4 Factory a far more aggressive riding position without sacrificing an iota of performance. That makes it the workshop’s wildest creation yet.
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