What to buy? (Aprilia RSV)

Rilot

Rilot

Rilot

Don
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
23,268
Location
Wargrave, UK
Having sold the Jaaaaaaag I'm now in a position to get back on two wheels. I'm going to buy in the next few weeks and hopefully get a winter bargain.
But, I'm in a quandary. Which model and how much?
Back in 2008 I had a 2006 RSV1000R Factory in black with the gold frame. It was a great bike but I sold it due to losing my job and needing something that was more comfortable to ride. Now, I just need the bike to scratch an itch.

So, I've got a £6k budget and these are my options as I see them:

Spend £3.5k on a late gen1 RSVR and have loads of change for mods.

8414035104_130417da49_b.jpg


Spend £4.5k on an early gen2 RSV Factory and have loads of change for mods.

8412936739_28eef7ca67_b.jpg


Spend £6k+ on a late model (2006+) RSV Factory like I had before.

8412936751_36a9f450ab_b.jpg


Sod the idea of a Factory and get a very late model (2008+) RSV-R with the Ohlins suspension but minus the carbon and the OZ that the Factory model has.

8414035118_e9770e0123_b.jpg


Go mad and buy a Tuono Factory and ride everywhere on the back wheel

8414035240_69cf3b533b_b.jpg


What would you buy?
 
Get a really nice RSV (non R/Factory) for less money, get the standard Showa forks re-valved, buy a decent rear shock (e.g. Maxton) and get a pair of s/h Oz wheels. That way you have something that handles as well as or better than the R/Factory and as a bonus you won't have the replace the fork seals every other week.

In fact do this right and you might just squeeze a pair of carbon wheels into the budget (£2600 a pair for BST wheels).

I have the perfect starting point...
rsv_work_zps1805443a.jpg
 
Last edited:
Dogbreath said:
Get a really nice RSV (non R/Factory) for less money, get the standard Showa forks re-valved, buy a decent rear shock (e.g. Maxton) and get a pair of s/h Oz wheels. That way you have something that handles as well as or better than the R/Factory and as a bonus you won't have the replace the fork seals every other week.

In fact do this right and you might just squeeze a pair of carbon wheels into the budget (£2600 a pair for BST wheels).
Click to expand...

Not a bad shout but the fork seals can be solved using Suzuki items. I did this on my old RSV Factory and never had a problem with them blowing.

Grrr, decisions decisions.
 
Find a good CER and grin your face off once you get the keys in your hands. They can be had for ridiculous money now and not even the latest jap tackle will hold a candle to a well ridden one from A to B.
 
I remember that bike, but didn't you find it really uncomfy, even after fitting helibars?

If you just want to scratch an itch and have fun, how about something like a super duke or Z1000?

Edit - just seen the Tuono consideration - you should go for that. You can't have proper fun if you're not comfortable, at least not for long.
 
Sagalout said:
I remember that bike, but didn't you find it really uncomfy, even after fitting helibars?

If you just want to scratch an itch and have fun, how about something like a super duke or Z1000?

Edit - just seen the Tuono consideration - you should go for that. You can't have proper fun if you're not comfortable, at least not for long.
Click to expand...

The main issue with the RSVR was that I was commuting on it. It was murder on the wrists at low speed.
 
Rilot said:
The main issue with the RSVR was that I was commuting on it. It was murder on the wrists at low speed.
Click to expand...

Which is why you may want to consider a Gen1 RSVR. :cool: The riding position and indeed the physical size and layout of the bike is very different from the Gen2. It's physically larger in bulk and fairly tall which is why it suits larger riders very often. I commuted on my 2000MY Gen1 for years with no real issues as far as comfort goes and also toured Scotland on it fully laden with luggage and a pillion. The only time it occasionally got slightly uncomfortable was in heavy city traffic but even then it was only a minor annoyance and not anything that would preclude someone from commuting on one.

I haven't commuted on it for a while though as I now ride to work on a Pinarello using my own fitness to propel me along the roads. :D

I still have the Mille but she's been sat in storage since April last year and hasn't turned a wheel since then. :(
 
Everything you (and others) have said about the size is making me seriously consider a mint, late model Gen 1. That one in the first pic is on sale for £3.5k at the moment and has 4000 miles on it.
Bargain.
 
Late model Gen1. Give it until the end of summer and see how you feel, you may want a different bike or decide to mod the one you get.

Keep the spare cash for track days and tours. £2600 for carbon wheels in my eyes is silly, that money is how many track days? (providing you don't bin it) or a nice tour round the E.U!
 
I find my RSV extremely comfortable for a sports bike, mainly due to the size and the amount of room you have to be able to move around. I've been up to the IOM from Plymouth (long way up going through the Wye Valley) and to Brands Hatch for a BSB round and apart from feeling a bit stiff at the end of the journey it was fine. I could barely make 100 miles on my SV650 without my rear end being in agony.

It's not so pleasant to ride through heavy traffic for any length of time, primarily due to a very long first gear (stock gearing on mine) which means you are constantly slipping the (heavy) clutch. Bigger rear sprocket/smaller front helps this and improves performance though the brilliant low RPM cruising ability and fuel economy will likely suffer.
 
Tuono .. did i mention a Tuono ? All the power of the rsvr and none of the wrist ache . 1 tooth down at front 2 up at back and enjoy the views of the sky .

Dont get the factory as it mings . Get a well sorted R as the Ohlins does not really bring a lot to the party other than gold bling
 
Persil said:
1 tooth down at front 2 up at back and enjoy the views of the sky.
Click to expand...

Indeed. This is a 'must do' mod. Pulls like a train. No hang on, make that 100 trains. I have ran 16/44 since I got the Mille about 8 years ago and the grin factor is still awesome. :D
 
Well, I bought a 2008 Tuono Factory. It's absolutely mint. Well chuffed.
Pics in the show us your bikes thread.
 
Oh dear. The credit card is getting hammered.
I've not even got the bike yet and I've already bought:

Mivv carbon high-level pipes
Aprilia Performance rearsets
ASV stubby levers
MLP clutch slave cylinder
15 tooth front sprocket (1 down)
42 tooth rear sprocket (2 up)
 
Last edited:
great choice rilot and great choice of parts . love the Mivv's . Im sure you will love the Tuono . cant wait to get mine back on the road
 
Ah you bought Tuono eh. That's what I was going to suggest if wrists were suffering. Now you got no fairing and get neck ache. ha ha ;)
 
Fair play! Good choice!

As nice as RSV's are it's always going to be wasted on the road so get a bike you can have fun on at slightly less illegal speeds!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom