Thinking about an RSVR

[DigST]

Good day to all, I ve been lurking around this section of our site for quite awhile trying to learn up on what I can about the RSVR. I am in the process I doing the actual leg work on getting one of these bikes so any an all advice would be welcome. First a brief history on myself: Started riding at 8 (love that Honda 50) have owned bikes for the past 15 years, (having a father who is an avid motorcyclist let me wait awhile to buy one of my own, you know the ole' saying why buy the cow when the milk was free!) I've ridden a little of everything and now own an 05' Triumph Sprint 1050. Great bike but I want more of the SPORT side of things. I do live close to an Aprilia dealer for some services I am not confident in doing myself.
Questions for the community:
1) Buy, new or used....I ve seen a few nice 2007.5 over a AF1 forums, it seems 10k is about the going rate +or-.
2) Reliability issues....I don't mean,"the its' bullit proof BS", hell I ride a Triumph for sh!t sake, give me the what to beware of, that way I'm not sitting on a dead bike going WTF.
3) What can I really expect as far as performance...I know it's a ten year old platform, the engine is down on horses compared to todays liter bikes, but the suspension is top shelf, the looks cannot be denied, and that performance V-twin thump can make a Harley owners butt pucker.
4) Mods, what should be done now, what could wait....the Sprint NEEDED the sprockets changed immediately to be appropriate for that sweet engine, but waited on the pipe upgrade.
Any and all input is welcomed, many thanks
Anthony

[Ape Factory]

Ok...where to start?  I own an 04 Factory and hands down, it's been the most enjoyable bike I've ever owned.  Just absolutely thrilled with it every time I get on the bike.  Mine has been mostly problem free and I've had no major issues that weren't easily solved.  

My two biggest complaints were the clutch master cylinder and rear brake.  By no means is it "normal" but the clutch master has to be bled periodically on some bikes (it's a cast Brembo radial stock).  I had issues with mine needing bleeding and finally did it myself in 10 minutes using "The Knurl's" method (AF1 forum) and didn't have any other issues.  I eventually swapped in a Brembo billet master cylinder as they're just so trick  

The rear brake didn't work at all.  Bled it once professionally with no success.  I finally pressed the brake lever all the way down and used a spanner wrench to hold it all the way down overnight and that worked.  I've not had a rear brake issue since.

The engine is very, very robust and for lack of a better term, bulletproof.  Very few engine failures are ever reported.  It's a Rotax engine.

Some problems, the 04 bikes had a swing arm recall which is replaced under warranty regardless of mileage/year.  On the 04's again, the dash odometer can reset to zero when the battery is disconnected.  So if you're looking at low mileage bike that's been through it's brake rotors and generally looks like it has a lot of wear and tear, well, look elsewhere.  FYI, a dealer can use the Axone tool to figure out how many hours the engine has been running and one could guestimate on mileage.  It'll be obvious if it's way off. Not all 04's have a dash that resets.  If in doubt, ask the guy to pull the negative battery terminal.  He'll either come clean or oblige.

Stators have been an issue on some bikes as well as what's called the stator's "brown connectors" which are of poor quality.  Most cut out the connectors and hard wire them.  Again, very low in cost to do.   The stators are about a grand from Aprilia but there are aftermarket stators which are under $200 now and seem to be working well.  I've not had any issues with my stator or connectors.

Those seem to be the major issues; stator, swingarm (recall), dash (recall), clutch master and rear brake.  On later model bikes, the swingarm and dash are a non-issue.  My bike, except for the clutch and rear brake, has been problem free and I have an early production example.  I would by no means shy away from picking up an 04 Factory that's in excellent condition vs. a newer non-Factory RSVR.  You get the full Ohlins package, forged wheels (vs. cast) and lots of carbon fiber goodness.  Ohlins front fork seals need replacing every 6K (they'll usually last longer) as they're low stiction seals and wear quickly.  You can swap in Suzuki K4 1000 seals which are double seals and last forever.  More stiction though.

Some of the 07+ paint schemes are really cool in person though.  I have the traditional "black" bike but I really like the white 07 Factory color and the silver/floro red color scheme.

Performance wise...the RSVR won the Master Bike competition in 2006, lapping faster than bikes with 40 more hp.  It really handles that well.  It also just placed third in this year's competition, beating out the new KTM RC8 in the V-twin class (although the Ducati boys pulled out of the competition with their $40K 1098R).

Stock, the bike will get you in trouble quickly.  They average about 120 at the back wheel but lots of torque and it's a big bang firing order so she grips and goes, even heeled over.  IMHO, the bike really needs slip on's (better bang for the buck than a full system) and switched to Map2 on the ECU (dealer can do it).  Other bolt-on mods don't do much but a good PCIII custom tune can also have nice hp benefits.  After that, if you're looking for 1098 power, there's a 1060 big bore kit which, with a full exhaust system and custom tune, puts out almost an identical dyno plot as the 1098.  The RSVR is a bit heavier but then it's a real bike made for real people and it can be all-day comfortable.  I'm taking mine from SW Florida to Indy for the motoGP event in September and I've done plenty of 400 mile days.

For comfort, I added a custom seat, acculign rearsets and Gilles variobars with 60mm risers.  I also did HID lights for the low beams.

The bodywork comes off very, very quickly thanks to stock Dzus fasteners.  Great for maintenance.

Ventura makes a rack system for the bike (pictured below) and you can get an 85 liter option (two bags zipped together).

And yes, with an aftermarket system, it sounds simply fantastic.  Much better than a Duc.

[DigST]

Ape, thanks for the reply. This is the bike I am hoping to acquire and the mods associated with it.
If all goes as planned I'll haul it back to WV from Atlanta.

Recap: a true 2007.5, not a 2006 leftover sold in 2007.

The mods (I also have all original parts as well) :

Evoluzione plate relocator
15t front sprocket
Carbon front fender
Custom exhaust hangers
Leo Vince titanium/carbon cans
Special fuel mapping
Custom tinted windscreen
Euro (clear) front and rear turn signal lenses with bulbs

[Ape Factory]

That's the color scheme I was referring to.  Looks fantastic in person.  Seems like all the important mods have already been done.  I'm assuming by special fuel mapping he/she means Map2 installed.  You should really enjoy that bike!  Any chance you'll be joining the Aprilia group (300+) at the Indy Moto GP event in September?  Ride the bike up and you'll be able to do a parade lap around the track prior to the race.  http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121930

Good luck and congrats!  Join us over on the Aprilia forum too!

[Orson]

After 10 years of production,  it's probably safe to say the engine is a flawless design.

They got it right the first time  

Bike magazine sums it up nicely by calling the RSV "the best Japanese bike to come out of Italy".

[keystonejenks]

Don't think, do!!! I'm still kicking myself I couldn't take advantage of the deal I had worked out on one at the dealer in McHenry, MD.  

Do some searching though, there are deals to be had.

[thatguy]

Yeah James that Triumph is cute but it's no Aprilia.

[keystonejenks]

Yeah James that Triumph is cute but it's no Aprilia.

Who asked you!?  

[MisterSmooth]

Ape, thanks for the reply. This is the bike I am hoping to acquire and the mods associated with it.
If all goes as planned I'll haul it back to WV from Atlanta.

Recap: a true 2007.5, not a 2006 leftover sold in 2007.

The mods (I also have all original parts as well) :

Evoluzione plate relocator
15t front sprocket
Carbon front fender
Custom exhaust hangers
Leo Vince titanium/carbon cans
Special fuel mapping
Custom tinted windscreen
Euro (clear) front and rear turn signal lenses with bulbs

That's a beauty!       Either that scheme or the Bol d'Or scheme with the purple nose are the best of any current generation RSV.

Ape Factory has nicely summed up the issues and fixes for the RSV.  It's a great bike.

I just bought a 2001 R version with 8,000 miles that had been languishing in a garage for a couple of years.  As Ape Factory points out, the fork seals get tired and mine needed replaced.  Other than that it's mint and feels solid as a rock.

My other bike is a 2007 Tuono (with about 12,000 miles and zero problems).  The Mille (which is pre-Euro 3 emissions standards) feels smoother and the throttle action is less abrupt.

Enjoy, and give us a ride report sometime, eh?

[DigST]

UPDATE!
Back with the bike went down to Atlanta, worked a deal for 10k cash, and I have a RSVR.
First ride assesment; this thing is friggin sweeeeet! for lack of a more techincal summary.
The bike is everything all of you said and more. I took it out for about 150 miles just a short get-to-know-you ride, it has all the power I will ever need, cornering is effortless, and the sound, oh the sound, the Leo Vince are absolutely rocking! Running anwhere below 6k rpms it is what a Harley always wanted to sound like, above that it sounds Formula One-ish with a purposeful tone and attitude.
The one issue, no rear brake!? I mean not even enough to hold me at a stop light with a slight grade.
The previous owner said the rear brake was non-existant, he wasn't lying. Since the bike still has a a little more than a year of warranty, I'll use that route first, if that doesn't pan out, I think someone here or over on AF1 gave other options for fixing it. I know most people don't use the rear brake, but when I was learning cornering techniques, it was shown how a little trail braking can settle the chasis and help you hold or adjust the your line without putting unnessary braking forces on your front wheel.
I am just one of those guys who feels that I should be a ble to use all of the tools afforded me when riding since I feel I have a ways to go before I would consider myself a really proficient rider and can do away with some of those things(i.e rear brake). I should have put that in a side bar, back to the bike.
The look is stunning, the paint scheme is better in person, Ape Factory you were not kidding.
I got more looks and compliments today than a whole month with the Sprint and I still think it has very nice lines.
I'll update with more as I put more miles on her, it a tough job but someone's got to do it.

[MisterSmooth]

UPDATE!
Back with the bike went down to Atlanta, worked a deal for 10k cash, and I have a RSVR.
First ride assesment; this thing is friggin sweeeeet! for lack of a more techincal summary.
The bike is everything all of you said and more. I took it out for about 150 miles just a short get-to-know-you ride, it has all the power I will ever need, cornering is effortless, and the sound, oh the sound, the Leo Vince are absolutely rocking! Running anwhere below 6k rpms it is what a Harley always wanted to sound like, above that it sounds Formula One-ish with a purposeful tone and attitude.
The one issue, no rear brake!? I mean not even enough to hold me at a stop light with a slight grade.
The previous owner said the rear brake was non-existant, he wasn't lying. Since the bike still has a a little more than a year of warranty, I'll use that route first, if that doesn't pan out, I think someone here or over on AF1 gave other options for fixing it. I know most people don't use the rear brake, but when I was learning cornering techniques, it was shown how a little trail braking can settle the chasis and help you hold or adjust the your line without putting unnessary braking forces on your front wheel.
I am just one of those guys who feels that I should be a ble to use all of the tools afforded me when riding since I feel I have a ways to go before I would consider myself a really proficient rider and can do away with some of those things(i.e rear brake). I should have put that in a side bar, back to the bike.
The look is stunning, the paint scheme is better in person, Ape Factory you were not kidding.
I got more looks and compliments today than a whole month with the Sprint and I still think it has very nice lines.
I'll update with more as I put more miles on her, it a tough job but someone's got to do it.

Well, now, that's terrific news.

The rear brake can be made to work just fine.  It just has to be bled by someone who knows how to do it.  Sounds silly, but it's true.

The AF1 forum has a post with detailed pictures showing how to bleed it.  FWIW, the rear on my Tuono has always worked great.  The rear brake on my Mille needs a good bleeding; it's fairly faint.

I agree with you--the rear brake is not essential, but I want to be able to use all of the tools available to me, so the rear brake has to work.

[thatguy]

Your close enough we can meet up and I'll show you the bi-monthly rear brake bleed.It's the one wart that reminds you it's a machine.Did mine yesterday.

[Ape Factory]

I'll tell you what I did to get my rear brake to work.  And it's not a joke.  I pushed the brake pedal all the way down, as far as it would go, and took the appropriate sized spanner wrench and slipped one end over the brake lever and the other wedged against the foot rest peg (I have aftermarket rearsets but it should work with the stock rearsets).  This keeps the rear brake pressed all the way down.  I left it like this overnight.  In the morning, I let it off and I had about half my rear brake so I did it again.  By the time I came home from work, I had a fully working rear brake and it's been like that for about two months.  It's starting to feel a bit wimpy again so I'll probably do it tonight.  My dealer also informed me the recall on the rear brake had not been performed on my bike.  I still need to have the swing arm replaced as well.

Others have achieved the same effect by hanging a weight off the rear brake lever.  I didn't have a weight but I did have about 50 wrenches to choose from!

Michel

[DigST]

Thatguy, thanks for the offer, I will see if there is a recall on the rear brake and use that avenue for correction first and then the bleeding. But an invite to ride is always welcome.
Ape Factory thanks for your insight for a fix as well, hopefully out of these 3 options I should have a working rear bake.
But if thats the extent of my worries with this bike, thats less glitches than my Sprint and I still enjoy riding that bike.

[keystonejenks]

 

[DigST]

I'll try to gets some pics posted before I leave for Chicagoland, I have to be on site for Lallopalooza (my company holds the insurance policy for the 3day event) if not my apologies.
BUT it will happen.

[MisterSmooth]

I'll try to gets some pics posted...

Yeah, yeah, sure.    Look, you can always post up some pics of your buddy's RSV.  We won't know.  

One funny little thing.  Isn't the design of the instruments tidy?  That little analog tach/digital everything else is an excellent design, both form and function.  Way better than my '01 Mille.  It's interesting to ride the Mille and Tuono back to back, I always notice how nice the instruments are on the T.

[DigST]

This is was an Ape looks like in a more rural setting.

[keystonejenks]

This is was an Ape looks like in a more rural setting.

I hate you so much right now!   The RSVR is the ONLY bike I lust after. I don't know what it is but it just has me hooked. It doesn't help that one of the local Aprilia dealers send me emails every month inquiring about my interest (I had a deal worked out for an 07 Tuono before I bought the used S4).

What is killing me now is that they have an 07 RSVR Factory that is calling my name.

[DigST]

Keystone, just pull the trigger. What are the cliche's; you only live once, it's better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission (if a wife is involved), you can have your cake and eat it too.
So what's holding you up? Get the bike, and worry about buyers remorse later.
Maybe I should post a sound clip of the Leo's.