Think I'm going to sell my RSV Factory and buy........

Rilot

Rilot

Rilot

Don
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
23,564
Location
Wargrave, UK
One of these:

f_ApriliaTuonm_bb97af6.jpg


A 2008 Aprilia Tuono Factory.

I've decided that the RSV Factory makes sense on the road for about 2% of the time I spend riding it. That is when I can go flat out down a twisty road with a good surface and no traffic.
In this day and age, that combination is fairly rare.
The rest of the time it's painful on the wrists, painful on the bum and is a right handful.

I looked in to converting the RSV in to a Tuono but when I added up the cost of the nose fairing, belly pan, rad shroud, top yoke, bars, longer brake and clutch lines, longer throttle cables, air intake plus all the bolts and fasteners to hold it all together I was looking at the scary end of the £1700 region. That's more than the price differential between the used value of my 56 Factory and a brand spanking 08 seeing as there are some fantastic deals on at the moment.
 
Rilot said:
I looked in to converting the RSV in to a Tuono but when I added up the cost of the nose fairing, belly pan, rad shroud, top yoke, bars, longer brake and clutch lines, longer throttle cables, air intake plus all the bolts and fasteners to hold it all together I was looking at the scary end of the £1700 region. That's more than the price differential between the used value of my 56 Factory and a brand spanking 08 seeing as there are some fantastic deals on at the moment.
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I was just thinking it looked like a crashed RSV ie sans bodywork. :D

I think it miight look better in a single solid colour though.
 
Love it.

The only naked bike I'd ever consider.

In fact I looked at one years ago, but the insurance at the time was killer. Went with the gixxer instead.
 
A friend of mine has one of these (went out for a few hours and the occasioanl ice cold drink pitstop yesterday), he used to have the RSV Factory but hasn't looked back, he still has a RSV for track use but loves the Tuono on the road, lovely bikes :)
 
Can you tell a bike noob like me what the difference is (bar the fairings), that make the Tuono easier to handle day to day?
 
paradigm said:
Can you tell a bike noob like me what the difference is (bar the fairings), that make the Tuono easier to handle day to day?
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I think it's a case of the bars are raised and leant towards you so you ride in the sit up and beg position rather than leaning forward over the tank.
 
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Dup said:
I think it's a case of the bars are raised and leant towards you so you ride in the sit up and bag position rather than leaning forward over the tank.
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Yup.
The Tuono is essentially the RSV, minus the fairing but plus some big, wide bars which are further back.
This means that you can't ride the bike at mega speeds due to no wind protection but you can wheelie it like mad and act like a total hooligan. Just my cup of tea.

Normally when you see a naked sports bike like this from Honda, Kawasaki or any other of the Jap four they come with engines that are "tuned for more midrange". This is an odd translation error from Japanese to English which should read: "We're scared people will kill themselves so we've taken the power away".
Aprilia keep the bike the same as the RSV. Same Ohlins suspension, same engine, same state of tune.
 
Gorgeous, and totally agree with your rationale Rilot. I'm riding an R1200GS Adventure these days and loving it.
 
You'll regret it. :p


Just my opinion.

I'd keep the factory. I've not had a go on the 04 onwards RSV, but I have heard tell that they are a whole lot less comfortable than the older shape Mille's like my own one.

I've toured Scotland on mine, with throwover panniers, a huge tankbag and the missus on the back and we both found it quite comfortable.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the newer shape Mille's are a lot less "roomy" than the old one?.
 
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I don't get what it is with horrible colours being mixed up on bikes...I mean gold, red, white and blue all together? yack.

I love the RSV's, but the truono's suck wang. They're so awkward looking.
If you want nekkid speed, buy a B-King.

post-77-1208413325.jpg

om-nyom-nom-nyom-om-nom!


But better still, keep the Mille and stop being a girl.
 
I think tuono is one of the best naked bikes about though thats partialy down to fact is it's just a RSV with high bars ;). True about the colors though, look very 80s... but, you gotta say the b-king looks sooooooooo sexy, looks like it wants to rip your read off even standing still (abit of a shame about the pipes, but I guess there are aftermaket ones that would clean up lines)
 
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Spie said:
Gorgeous, and totally agree with your rationale Rilot. I'm riding an R1200GS Adventure these days and loving it.
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Drove my directors one of these and i was amazed how quick you could make progress on a b road. Would deffo surprise a few sports bikes.

Lovely riding position, loads of grunt, though did feel I was about to set off on some crazy round world trip ;), not sure why :)
 
I've seen a few out an about with 2 guys I know having had them, but they don't float my boat, not enough wind protection, and IME seem to be ridden by people that just end up 'proving' how fast they are to every sportsbike rider they come accross, as if they have something to prove. The 2 guys who have had them both got rid for the same reason, despite the excellent handling, the windblast above 70 just made long rides out with the lads unbearable.. (The big jessies!)..

Me personally, I prefer faired bikes, but I'd consider something a bit different, R1200GS certainly would be worth a go..
 
I agree about wind, I spent some time on a m8s bandit 1200 and boy, even 90mph totally tires you out.

In the end when he was back on bike he just could not keep up on motorway and we had to sit at about 65mph. I got to our dest fresh as a daisy (even on a TL1000R which is like riding a ironing board), he was a total wreck and felt like crap for rest of day.

Would love a R1200GS, but would have to have a sports tool for hooning about also
 
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MrSix said:
post-77-1208413325.jpg

om-nyom-nom-nyom-om-nom!
Click to expand...

The production b-king doesn't look as good as that. If it did I would buy one in the blink of an eye.

Here's the production version:
f_BKINGETTDm_6503dbd.jpg


Yuk yuk yuk. Those pipes look stupid.

Plus it's got 2 cylinders too many.

Draeger said:
You'll regret it. :p


Just my opinion.

I'd keep the factory. I've not had a go on the 04 onwards RSV, but I have heard tell that they are a whole lot less comfortable than the older shape Mille's like my own one.

I've toured Scotland on mine, with throwover panniers, a huge tankbag and the missus on the back and we both found it quite comfortable.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the newer shape Mille's are a lot less "roomy" than the old one?.
Click to expand...

You're right. I rode a <03 Mille and they are physically MUCH larger bikes. Way more comfy than the >03s. The main problem is my MS. My body hurts in certain positions and RSV puts me in exactly one of the positions that hurts when I'm riding slowly. It's a bummer.
 
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lovely bikes all of them

but if youre going to go italian and nekked then it has to be the HYPERMOTO.

I got to fiddle with them at the ducati road show in Florence. They were pure play.

Just lovely; the S is THE italian naked. Smooth, sexy and refined... until you unleash the passion.
 
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