Resurrections are rare in the motorcycle world, but here we are: the Aprilia Shiver 900, a ghost of its former self, is back from the dead.
After being axed in 2020, the Shiver has found new life in China, built under the watchful eye of Zongshen-Piaggio. The catch? It’s Aprilia in name, but Chinese in everything else.
The 2025 Aprilia Shiver 900 Is Italian by Name and Chinese Otherwise
This rebirth has been years in the making. The first whispers came in 2021, when Zongshen teased a Shiver-based Cyclone RA9 concept, alongside a Gilera-branded V-twin.
Then, in 2022, Piaggio and Zongshen announced their joint venture, with a 900cc twin-cylinder bike in the works. By 2023, design filings hinted at two potential machines: one wearing Aprilia’s badge, the other branded “GLR900” for Gilera. But now, the dust has settled, and it’s Aprilia’s name on the tank once more.
On the surface, the 2025 Shiver is a faithful replica of its Italian predecessor. The same stacked headlight, the same trellis frame—only minor updates like keyless ignition and fresh side panels mark the changes. But beneath the nostalgia, the Shiver is starting to show its age.
It still cranks out 94 hp from its V-twin, still carries 485 pounds of weight, and still lacks the cutting-edge tech of its rivals. For comparison, CFMoto’s 800NK weighs 75 pounds less and delivers 100 hp—yet somehow costs a few grand less in China.
And that’s the real shocker. The 2025 Shiver isn’t some budget-friendly reincarnation. Priced at 68,800 yuan (about $9,500), it’s steep for a Chinese-made machine. That price tag underlines a shift in China’s market, where premium Western branding carries serious weight.
But don’t get your hopes up, Shiver fans. For now, this Italian-turned-Chinese machine is staying put in China. The West won’t see its return—at least, not yet. But as the line between Chinese and European motorcycles continues to blur, don’t be surprised if the Shiver sneaks its way back into Western showrooms before long.
Source: Cycle World, ACKO Drive
