Getting my new 08 RSV1000R tonight!!!!!

[steveg56]

Congrats on the bike. Those things really are a thing of beauty.

Before you change anything besides the sag on the bike I would ride it for a while and get used to it. I don't know what your bike history is and how used to sport bikes you are but they take a bit of getting used to. Especially Italian ones. When you say the bike wants to dive in or stand up in corners I'm thinking you're on the throttle or brakes incorrectly for that bike. You'll be surprised at the impact that those controls will have. What about the riding position don't you like? Remember that you're not supposed to rest on your wrists. Use your core and the gas tank to take the weight.

OK, enough unsolicited advice   Get out there and enjoy that bike....and I am sooooo jealous!

james

James,

Thanks for your advise I appreciate it very much.  The last sport bike I had was a 1987 Honda Hurricane (cbr600)  and was only 16 or 17, so a lot has changed with me since.  I did not ride street for the next 13 years until I bought my first Harley.   I have been on Harley's for the last 6 years and have become used to the lean back position.  

I feel like there is so much weight on my wrists and my Triceps were actually sore from my 150 mile outing.  IS this something you get used to after some time?  I think you would.  

As far as the cornering goes, the brakes and throttle had a bunch to do with the bike diving and standing in the corners...so i got your point there.  The funny think is, I used to rail on my CBR like crazy  I had full control of that bike in very high speeds and cornering was never an issue.  I think I had to may miles sitting the other way, as I actually can rail the corners on my harley with ease.  

I really appreciate everyones advise on this matter.

[Orson]

I feel like there is so much weight on my wrists and my Triceps were actually sore from my 150 mile outing.  IS this something you get used to after some time?  I think you would.  

Aprilia sportbikes are pretty uncompromising. They're pretty much race bikes with lights.

Any speeds below about 80 mph don't provide enough wind blast to help relieve your wrists.

that's the uncompromising part  

If you're relatively young, you may develop your muscles and eventually grow more comfortable with the riding position.

[EricJ]

I feel like there is so much weight on my wrists and my Triceps were actually sore from my 150 mile outing.  IS this something you get used to after some time?  I think you would. 

I too was having sore wrists when I first started riding my RSV. I spoke to my dealer about this and he suggested that I need to rethink how I ride after coming off a relaxed riding posture. He stated the best way to deal with this is really grip the bike with your legs  and do not rest your weight on your hands/wrists. The seat and areas that I grip with my legs are really smooth areas and make it tough to grip so a lot of people put the grip pads on each side of the bike. If I'm just wearing bluejeans, I tend to just slide around trying to grip the bike. If I wear my leather riding pants, it grips a whole lot better.

When i tried riding like this it almost eliminated the problem for me but I will say that it was hard for me to "rethink" how I ride this bike. Over time I've developed better muscles in my abdomen and legs and it has only gotten better.

I'm sorry you're having these issues with your new ride. 


Eric

[garry]

I feel like there is so much weight on my wrists and my Triceps were actually sore from my 150 mile outing.  IS this something you get used to after some time?  I think you would.  

You should have no weight on your arms when riding. Your hands, wrists, arms and shoulders should be totally relaxed all the time. The bike handles better when you're not stiff. When doing it right, you should be able to flap your arms like a chicken. That means building up core strength and gripping the bike with your legs. I'm screaming up on 50 years old and manage 400+ mile days of twisties on a sportbike. Actually, a screaming deal on a leftover RSV could put one in my garage. Sweet bike.

[BobW]

Congrats on a very sweet ride!

+1 on garry's advice. When your using correct posture, pivot from your hips (don't slouch) it should be your legs and core muscles that will be used/tired and if you are getting wrist/arm/shoulder muscle pain you should take a break, relax and think about how you are controlling her. EVERY time I switch bikes I question my choice due to some aspect of the ergos. I find the best thing for me is to take a couple weeks/1-2Ks of riding first to see if my muscles have adjusted and then look at a different bar position, screen, seat, etc. 90+% of the issues go away with riding time regardless if it's been going to a cruiser, standard, ST, bars VS clip ons, etc.

Safe travels!

Bob  

[steveg56]

Congrats on a very sweet ride!

+1 on garry's advice. When your using correct posture, pivot from your hips (don't slouch) it should be your legs and core muscles that will be used/tired and if you are getting wrist/arm/shoulder muscle pain you should take a break, relax and think about how you are controlling her. EVERY time I switch bikes I question my choice due to some aspect of the ergos. I find the best thing for me is to take a couple weeks/1-2Ks of riding first to see if my muscles have adjusted and then look at a different bar position, screen, seat, etc. 90+% of the issues go away with riding time regardless if it's been going to a cruiser, standard, ST, bars VS clip ons, etc.

Safe travels!

Bob  

Thanks Bob!

I'm going to give it some time to see how I adjust.  What about my neck feeling the strain of keeping my head up.  Do I need to invest in a better (lighter) helmet to take some of the heaviness away?  I will pay more attention to the way I use my core to keep the weight off my arms and wrists.  

I think I have the cornering down now with the tips everyone here suggested.....thanks everyone!!!!!

[Oddball]

She is very nice.

[KMAX]

Congrats on the new bike! My local Aprilia dealer has a 2007(?) black/gold RSV Factory sitting on the floor  

I would love to have a Euro liter sportbike in the stable, so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for screaming deal on lightly used Daytona 955i, RSV/Mille, or Duc 999.

My local dealer has the same bike.  Leftover 07 Factory 18 will let go for 13! Im tempted

[scottzilla]

Took it out today for 150 mile ride.  Weather was very windy and cold, but bike was hot!!!!!!  Love the motor and the sound from the stockers is not bad.  I must admit that the riding position will take some getting used to.  Seems a bit hard to hold a steady line in a corner, bike wants to dive in or stand up.  I only notice this while in a 20-30mph corner, long sweeping corners at higher speeds are no problem and bike will hold a steady line.  Seems twitchy in slower speed corners.  Is this normal for these types of bikes?  I took it to a shop today to have the sag and clickers adjusted to my specs and am running 32 psi in front with 38 psi in the rear...

Anyone have any experience with aftermarket bar risers??  

Other than the slight twitchy feeling in sharp corners bike is sweet!!!!!!  

Congrats on the purchase.  The twitchy feeling may "go away" once you get used to the bike.  It's possible the dealer has the back end jacked up though (I can't recall if RSV's have ride height) or a lack of preload in the front forks.  Make sure you properly ID "Twitchy" vs Stability".

[Galo]

Don't forget...first thing to do is drop the front sprocket to 15 teeth in lieu of the 16 that comes with the new bikes.  16 is an EPA concession; it was designed for 15 and the engine is much happier at low revs with the shorter gearing.  

Wow....15 teeth....that's one helluva lot of angular acceleration/twist of the chain.....
Any problems with accelerated chain or sprocket wear with this sprocket?
I would much rather go up two or three teeth in the rear sprocket than drop to a 15 in front...

[kevin_stevens]

Aprilia rocks.

Welcome to the cult club.    It's nothing but goodness.  

Don't forget...first thing to do is drop the front sprocket to 15 teeth in lieu of the 16 that comes with the new bikes.  16 is an EPA concession; it was designed for 15 and the engine is much happier at low revs with the shorter gearing.  And it's cheap to do.  

EPA concession?  

KeS

[chornbe]

Congrats on the new bike! My local Aprilia dealer has a 2007(?) black/gold RSV Factory sitting on the floor  

I would love to have a Euro liter sportbike in the stable, so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for screaming deal on lightly used Daytona 955i, RSV/Mille, or Duc 999.

Meh... I was less than impressed with the suspension and handling of the 955i I recently acquired to part out. The engine is just freaking awesome and could make me dream nasty, dirty things. But the rest of the bike... meh...

[keepergale]

EPA concession?  

KeS

Its a consession for noise. It is a little quieter rolling by the sound check station (in europe) geared higher.

[Croak]

Its a consession for noise. It is a little quieter rolling by the sound check station (in europe) geared higher.

It's also running lower RPM (and burning less fuel) at the same road speed, so it tends to blow a little cleaner in emissions testing.

[ibppjr]

I went 15/43 on my ST4S and it REALLY brought it to life.  That is not too tight of turn on the front, and with an odd tooth count on the rear can substantially increase chain life.