Shiver - US mag test

[Weaselette]

Whoa, whoa and whoa... you have one? Give! Tell all. The bike has tingle my man parts since I first read something on it two years ago. Gimme all the dirt.

Sorry for the delay in titillating your nether regions  

I wasn't shopping for the Shiver at all... in fact, I was fairly well on my way to buying a WeeStrom as an alter ego to my well-ridden and much appreciated Honda 919. Then my husband decided to throw over his Moto Guzzi Coppa Italia for an Aprilia Capo Nord, so on the Friday before Memorial Day, he suggested I accompany him to Moto International (wunnerful shop in Seattle) to pick up his bike. Once we'd gotten there, he suggested I take the Shiver for a ride. He'd taken it for a quick spin while finalizing the deal on the Capo Nord and said it was a kick. And it was! Even with a fairly sane ride around the neighbourhood of 85th and Aurora, I could well guess its potential, so I rode it back to the dealers and did something I've never done before: bought it on the spot. No research, no comparo shopping, nuffin.

So after running off with the handsome Italian, I got used to the idea of owning one. The VTwin burbles like a teapot at low speeds and snarls like a Tiger on the highway. The  fly-by-wire throttle took a bit of getting used to, but the ability to change the mapping from "sport" to "touring" (there's also a rain mode, which I never use) makes it feel like two different bikes.

The styling is dead sexy: gold trellis frame and handlebars (my colour scheme is  Silver Fever) and despite the lack of wind  screen, there are very few times I've felt wind buffeting.

Sadly, this year I haven't had enough time to do long distance touring: in early July we saddled up to ride down Highway 101 and damned if I didn't sprain my ankle throwing a leg over the damned bike at the gas station. Still, we got a good 2,000 miles riding down the Oregon Coast before cutting over into eastern Oregon to return home on the excellent Hwy 395 from John Day to Pendleton.

The only gremlin that's surfaced (and it may point out the weakness of that fly-by-wire) was on our anniversary pilgrimage to Mt Rainier in October: the oil pressure sensor  gave a couple of false readings at the top of Blewett Pass and again on the top of White Pass. The net result was that, when the bike senses a threat to the engine, it shuts down the throttle, which in my opinion, really puts the rider at a disadvantage!

Moto Int'l did their usual stellar job of servicing the problem, and so far, it's ridden perfectly (though the riding opportunities here in NC Washington are rapidly disappearing).

Hope this helps give you a sense of the bike. If I could wave a wand and change one thing about it, it'd be to add fuel capacity, for 4 gallons just isn't enough for long-distance touring. But woddahell, I can park it in my living room over the winter and contemplate its beauty in the mean time!

[chornbe]

Excellent. Thank you. That thing has had a LOT of my attention for quite a while. It's nice to hear something other than the typical love-it-or-hate-it magazine crap.  

Did you buy the demo bike, or a new one they had in stock?

[Weaselette]

I bought the demo, which had about 100 miles on it; the only other one they had at the time was black and orange, and the silver demo nicely set off the gold trellis frame.  Ooooh. Aaah. Pretty!

[Weaselette]

I should also point out that while I had over 4,300 trouble-free miles before the faulty oil pressure sensor reared its head, other riders have reported different issues. Further research on owner satisfaction can be done here: http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=63.  One other thing I neglected to mention is that the bike sits pretty upright on the side stand, so I always need to take the crown of the road into account  when I park, and damned if the thing didn't tip over this summer on the ferry, despite locking the handlebars. But it's a minor quibble!

[Rogue]

Does anyone else think that 420 pounds is a touch heavy for this era and the naked platform?

One of the lightes sportbikes around is the Honda CBR600RR at 412 lbs. wet.

I think the closest nake sportbike to that is the Triumph 675 Street Triple, which I think is around 410-415 lbs.  So 420 is NOT "a touch heavy" at all.   In fact, in today's era, it is considered lightweight for a sportbike.

[chornbe]

One of the lightes sportbikes around is the Honda CBR600RR at 412 lbs. wet.

I think the closest nake sportbike to that is the Triumph 675 Street Triple, which I think is around 410-415 lbs.  So 420 is NOT "a touch heavy" at all.   In fact, in today's era, it is considered lightweight for a sportbike.

Yeah, but I think the shiver's 420 is dry, while the RR's 415 is wet, right?

[Weaselette]

The Shiver's dry weight is closer to 417 pounds, but who's counting. It FEELS lighter and more nimble to me....

[chornbe]

The Shiver's dry weight is closer to 417 pounds, but who's counting. It FEELS lighter and more nimble to me....

There ya go. The FJR is like that. We're talking a 660lb bike that instantly sheds a LOT of weight once the wheels are turning. Geometry and weight distribution go a long way to smoothing over just "weight".

[goodhawk]

Where do y'all get this 420 lb dry for Shiver ?  magazine test weight , full of fuel , is like 490 +  ( both Motorcyclist and cycle world tests , so I think accurate ) so I don't think it could be less than 460 dry unless that's a shipping weight with no oil, rad. fluid , battery , tires . . .  not attacking, curious.

[Weaselette]

Where do y'all get this 420 lb dry for Shiver ?  magazine test weight , full of fuel , is like 490 +  ( both Motorcyclist and cycle world tests , so I think accurate ) so I don't think it could be less than 460 dry unless that's a shipping weight with no oil, rad. fluid , battery , tires . . .  not attacking, curious.

I've read the same article, but many other sources, including my owner's manual, list the dry weigh at right around 417 lbs. *shrug* I just ride the derned thing  

[Mephistopheles]

I just saw the bit about the shiver weighing 500lbs!

My Futura weighs 456 dry, so about 500 wet.

I really don't get it.  Is the bike really so cheap that they couldn't afford any aluminum?

[atadaskew]

I just saw the bit about the shiver weighing 500lbs!

My Futura weighs 456 dry, so about 500 wet.

I really don't get it.  Is the bike really so cheap that they couldn't afford any aluminum?

Sportrider magazine lists the wet weight of your Futura at 565lbs
http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_weights_measurements/index.html

[Mephistopheles]

Sportrider magazine lists the wet weight of your Futura at 565lbs
http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_weights_measurements/index.html

This site has the RST1000 dry 416lbs - http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/aprilia_rst_1000_futura_2005.php

and this one at dry 462 - http://www.speed-sports.com/motorcycles/aprilia_models/Futura1000.html

So who knows, I can't lift it onto my bathroom scale...


In any case, my bike is much bigger with lots of plastic, fairing, bags, and about 250 more cc of displacement, so I would hope a newer smaller bike would weigh a lot less than mine.

[atadaskew]

So who knows, I can't lift it onto my bathroom scale...

Sport Rider does.  They actually weighed the bike.  565lbs.

[Mephistopheles]

Sport Rider does.  They actually weighed the bike.  565lbs.

They also have both of our bikes' torque and HP specs in the wrong column, or just wrong.

I mentioned the weight issue in the first place merely to illustrate that a newer, smaller-displacement, naked bike from the same manufacturer as my own is within 50 lbs or so of a 997cc., faired, bagged bike made for two up travel.

The real question here is what is the point of your recent follow up post?  
Are you just trying to show that you have a bigger dick than mine?

I have no doubt that you are a bigger dick, since you ride both a Harley and a Ducati...

[atadaskew]

The real question here is what is the point of your recent follow up post?  
Are you just trying to show that you have a bigger dick than mine?

I have no doubt that you are a bigger dick, since you ride both a Harley and a Ducati...

Wow.  I was pointing out that Sport Rider actually measures their bike's weights and you throw insults?
Real nice piece of work.
I'm sure that everyone else on this site that rides Ducatis and Harleys also appreciates your comments.

[chornbe]

I have two Harleys. I guess I'm a double dick, then. Wait... If you'll pardon me, I have to book a flight to Nevada immediately.