Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Jan 2004
- Posts
- 12,772
- Location
- Leicestershire
today i took the bike out for it's first ride other than to the MOT station and back. 2002 RSV Mille. Has an Aprilia Racing Titanium Can and is totally stock other than this. 
Roads were pretty greasy due to heavy rain and it's got mismatched tyres on so handling wasn't really attempted at any great speed. I have to say that my idea of no great speed is normally a bit quicker than your average rider though.
Did a bit of everything, town riding, A roads, dual carriageway, residential and even trips to the shops to pick bits up.
When i bought it i knew it wasn't exactly a commuter tool or even a town bike, it was a track tool with lights on. I thought 'ah it will be ok anyway....'
Town Riding
One word... nightmare. Aching wrists, can't see the speedo unless you have your chin on the tank and also... it doesn't like to be in anything other than first gear. Didnt like the ride in town as suspension was a bit too harsh overall. has pretty decent cubby holes in the tail unit for bits though so was able to bring quite a few tools from my mates house in the seat unit. so for town riding, first impression rank 7/10 because it sounds awesome, has space under the seat and the exhaust booms off the buildings
Dual Carriageway
Nothing much to say... needs a double bubble screen and the mirrors are useless. pulls like a train and with it being greasy once i got onto my own private test track (which has a dual carriageway) i was able to open it up a bit. **** me.... i was grinning like a cheshire cat all the way to 10k rpm in 4th and then i decided to back off when a quick glimpse and the blurring clocks read something around jail time in a matter of seconds. from 4krpm up to 10k rpm was just constant... no let up on acceleration due to the torque! 7/10 for the noise and the constant grunt through the rev range let down by needing a double bubble for the wind. plus it sounds awesome.
A roads
Being greasy the roads were crap but the ride was nice and the riding position once you start getting into it is excellent once you've adjusted everything to suit you. not too soft on the ride and the brakes were very good. precise and powerful enough. the rear brake still works too.... 9/10 as you dont need a double bubble with the way i ride and this suits my style of an excellent handling bike. plus it sounds awesome.
Maintenence and ease of it.
it's certainly an odd bike. no doubt about that. the oil filter is inside the engine, you have to check the oil AFTER you have come from a ride, it has a hydraulic clutch and the clocks are pretty trick. add this to the 4 pot, 4 pad brembo calipers and disc and levers and you have a pretty trick bit of kit as standard! quite easy to work on though as it's designed to be stripped and maintained. plus it sounds awesome.
overall first impressions would be 8.5/10.
did i mention it sounds awesome?
Roads were pretty greasy due to heavy rain and it's got mismatched tyres on so handling wasn't really attempted at any great speed. I have to say that my idea of no great speed is normally a bit quicker than your average rider though.
Did a bit of everything, town riding, A roads, dual carriageway, residential and even trips to the shops to pick bits up.
When i bought it i knew it wasn't exactly a commuter tool or even a town bike, it was a track tool with lights on. I thought 'ah it will be ok anyway....'
Town Riding
One word... nightmare. Aching wrists, can't see the speedo unless you have your chin on the tank and also... it doesn't like to be in anything other than first gear. Didnt like the ride in town as suspension was a bit too harsh overall. has pretty decent cubby holes in the tail unit for bits though so was able to bring quite a few tools from my mates house in the seat unit. so for town riding, first impression rank 7/10 because it sounds awesome, has space under the seat and the exhaust booms off the buildings
Dual Carriageway
Nothing much to say... needs a double bubble screen and the mirrors are useless. pulls like a train and with it being greasy once i got onto my own private test track (which has a dual carriageway) i was able to open it up a bit. **** me.... i was grinning like a cheshire cat all the way to 10k rpm in 4th and then i decided to back off when a quick glimpse and the blurring clocks read something around jail time in a matter of seconds. from 4krpm up to 10k rpm was just constant... no let up on acceleration due to the torque! 7/10 for the noise and the constant grunt through the rev range let down by needing a double bubble for the wind. plus it sounds awesome.
A roads
Being greasy the roads were crap but the ride was nice and the riding position once you start getting into it is excellent once you've adjusted everything to suit you. not too soft on the ride and the brakes were very good. precise and powerful enough. the rear brake still works too.... 9/10 as you dont need a double bubble with the way i ride and this suits my style of an excellent handling bike.
plus it sounds awesome.Maintenence and ease of it.
it's certainly an odd bike. no doubt about that. the oil filter is inside the engine, you have to check the oil AFTER you have come from a ride, it has a hydraulic clutch and the clocks are pretty trick. add this to the 4 pot, 4 pad brembo calipers and disc and levers and you have a pretty trick bit of kit as standard! quite easy to work on though as it's designed to be stripped and maintained. plus it sounds awesome.
overall first impressions would be 8.5/10.
did i mention it sounds awesome?
