Tell me about Aprilia RSV's.

[Danny_Two]

Aprilia RSV's, lets say from 2005/6 onwards. Opinions, reliability, rideability etc. Why so many variants, R's, factory etc?

Didn't someone on here have a right nightmare with one?

Any opinions welcome.

[Weeksy]

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Electrics are wank.
Clocks are prone to misting
Factory/R's etc all down to suspension and carbon bits
later ones are dual exhaust and different headlight

Mostly cracking bikes along with the Tuono which shares a vast ammount of componentry

[Adam]

Electrics are wank. - For the most part they are fine. There's just one loom across from the genny to the reg rec that has issues. 30-60 mins spent fettling it when you first get the bike saves all the hassle later down the line...
Clocks are prone to misting - to be fair mine was fine till they took a slight knock to a ford mondeo.
Factory/R's etc all down to suspension and carbon bits - R on later modelxs is the base bike and the factory is the one to go for really. Better Ohlins suspenders but the Showas on the R are fine and dandy when set up and fettled.
later ones are dual exhaust and different headlight - and the engines have a much better feel and power delivery, the chassis rides totally differently and the bike although the same essential "idea" is a fair bit different.

Mostly cracking bikes along with the Tuono which shares a vast ammount of componentry.

RSV looks better, but IMO the Tuono is a much better bike.

[JAYMZ]

Can't give any useful input to this thread other than: Next to an old 916-shape Ducati, my favouritest of favourite bike ever. Hubba!

Look great. Sound great. And I want one! (as well as a Tuono).

[Schtum]

I've got a mate who has an '06 Factory. It's very good but kind of confirms my view that sports bikes are irrelevant on the road. I found it to be a bit uninvolving until you're doing 100 mph +, even down single track B roads.

[Weeksy]

Originally Posted by Schtum

I've got a mate who has an '06 Factory. It's very good but kind of confirms my view that sports bikes are irrelevant on the road. I found it to be a bit uninvolving until you're doing 100 mph +, even down single track B roads.

Which is why you get a Tuono

[Danny_Two]

Originally Posted by Weeksy

Which is why you get a Tuono

Im suprised your OCD let you get a Tuono, all those dead insects in the rad and under the yoke to clean off must drive you mental.

[Judge]

But the older Tuono is the better looking one

[Weeksy]

Originally Posted by Danny_Two

Im suprised your OCD let you get a Tuono, all those dead insects in the rad and under the yoke to clean off must drive you mental.

Dead insects ? it would have to move to get them

[mallett]

Originally Posted by Danny_Two

Im suprised your OCD let you get a Tuono, all those dead insects in the rad and under the yoke to clean off must drive you mental.

Tenner says he'll be back in about an hour as he hasn't checked there since it was last cleaned. I bet he twitched a bit when he read your post

[Funners]

Pretty much what Adam said, I had an 05 Factory and in 3 1/2 years it never let me down,
it suffered from

• 1 leaky fork seal (ohlins they all do that sir)
• 1 slightly toasty elctrical connector which is a known issue and as Adam says about 30 mins to sort if you can drive a soldering iron !)
• errrr 1 puncture......

and thats it !
I ragged mine, I toured on mine and it was excellent

other issues are.....the oil pressure switch can fail dropping the bike into "limp mode" whaich is a pain but was fixed by later parts
Stock gearing is silly over geared so a sprocket swop is the way forward
back brake is crap, tho I discovered just before I sold mine that it actually works, but the lever fouls the fairing when you use your foot(whilst riding) as opposed to your hand whilst looking at it(IYSWIM) and this prevents the lever moving far enough to work proper ! a simple "tweak" of a bracket and the back brake was aces....for the two days I owned it after anyway !
Clutch is a PITA at slow speeds and some need bleeding every 100 miles.....yes really, Mine was fine and again there is an easy fix costing about £5 all in if it needs doing.

LOADS fo aftermarket bling and stuff to throw at them if you desire, and nice enough stock if you don't
respond well to mild tuning (pipes/PC3/Airbox mods) and sounds excellent.....

did I mention they sound EXCELLENT on open pipes ?

I'd have another without hesitation.
I found parts weren't a problem unlike the stories you hear all the time about Aprilias.
Service costs...the only expensive one is the 1st one......bargain on that one if you buy a new one !

[Adam]

What was the problem you had up in Scotland Guy? I can't remember.

Originally Posted by Schtum

I've got a mate who has an '06 Factory. It's very good but kind of confirms my view that sports bikes are irrelevant on the road. I found it to be a bit uninvolving until you're doing 100 mph +, even down single track B roads.

Wha weeksy said:

Originally Posted by Weeksy

Which is why you get a Tuono

Originally Posted by Judge

But the older Tuono is the better looking one

IF you like 80s shell suits.

[Nique]

I've owned a 99 model (for 4 years) and a 2004 Factory (nearly 2 years)

Electrics ...never had a problem really......apart from if you hit the starter button on the early model for too long (5 seconds +) itll surge and send the clocks spinning to max before they return.

Not a glitch more of a 'feature'

Never had probs with any misting

Factorys have Brembo Oro Series calipers (100mm mounting so they dont fit anything other than Prillers and Dukes), (Spanish not proper Jap/Swedish) Ohlins front and rear and carbon bits also and slightly different ECU settings. Factory also has a slipper clutch (although I'm not sure whether they added that also to the later R models as well). Factory has Forged Y spoke (in gold or blue) wheels whereas R has standard 5 spoke swoopy things (usually in grey methinks).

To fit Akros or what not they should be remapped to the ECU2 setting...for that you'll need access to an Axione machine (dealer should have one). I had Akro SPs on my Factory nice throb without being too offensive....I had the Arrow WSB over and under 'shotgun' pipe on the 99 and that was just LOUD! Used to set car alarms off on tickover at 300 yards

Suspenders need tweaking if you go for Ohlins...bit harsh on the road as standard..R (base model) has Showa front and Sachs Rear

The 2004+ models have twin exhausts and are quite practical. Spares and stuff are not a problem ...you'll get plenty that will say otherwise....but they sorted the supply chain out years ago now.

They need a bit more servicing than your JILFs....dont jet wash under the dash either.

Enignes are bullet proof, build quality is great....they seem to have got recent colour schemes straight out of 1983 Freemans catalogue though

Gold frame? Bluuuerrgghhhh

Seat height is tall, however I managed OK with a 28 inside leg...clutch can be heavy....but nothing compared to a Duke/Benelli clutch. Larger reservior kits can be bought from people like Evolutione.net for @ £140 IIRC...make the clutch much better

Avoid 2004 model if you can as these had a few niggles being the first batch of a new model. In all fairness these will have prolly been sorted under warranty...namely Clutch bleeding in air and swinging arm mod .

Rear brake needs regular bleeding to get it to do anything more than well....errrrrrrr..nowt much. Front are stonking tho!

I loved the way you had to muscle it around....I was like a monkey on gorillas back

I' d have another in a heart beat.....

Originally Posted by Judge
But the older Tuono is the better looking one

To be fair mate, anything next to your mug is better looking

[God]

Never ever, ever (ever) buy a 2004 Mille, no matter how cheap it is.

Avoid the 2005 if humanly possible, too.

2006 bikes are far better.

The head of UK Aprilia tech services once told me that the 2004 Mille was by far, the worst bike Aprilia has ever made. He was right.

[Funners]

Originally Posted by Adam

What was the problem you had up in Scotland Guy? I can't remember.

Oil pressure switch playing up, (starting to) just needed switching off then back on again, replaced it for £9 when I got back.....no biggie....