Aprilia service?

[ArtVandelay]

I am looking around for a sport tourer in the $5,000 range +/- and have a line on a 2001 Aprilia Futura with about 20K miles on it.

a)  any comments on what to look for on a Futura with this many miles on it?  Any concern about this mileage?  I assume, as I always do, that the bike will be up for a service.  Any recommendation on what may need attention at this mileage/how much it might run?
b)  Nearest Aprilia dealer is about 5.5 hours ride away.  Any idea whether your basic local Honda/Yamaha dealer would be able to service this thing?  Or would I have to factor in long trips to get service?

Thanks for any comments.

[2cats]

Aprilia service is a crap shoot.  There's no guarantee that a dealer will be any good, and a responsible, well intentioned non-Aprilia dealer can be fantastic (might be nice to loan them the factory service manual and engine manual that you will purchase).  By my standards, 5.5 hr is a little long.  I've done quite a bit of the 2.25 hr, which is annoying, but the destination dealership is rather good.  I'm starting to work with a new "local" (50 miles; 1 hr) dealer, and they are one for one so far.  I'm hopeful.  Then there's parts.

Of course the usual mantra on the Futura is the voltage regulator/wiring mod and replacing the plastic fuel tank quick disconnect with a metal one.  At 20,000 miles, you should do a valve check and change the fork oil, if you don't know that it has been done.

I've never like the Ducati ST's for a couple of personal persnickety reasons, and I don't know how much they go for used.  And I don't care if the service intervals are slightly shorter on the Ducati, and I know that they're not really that expensive.  For a care free ownership experience, the Ducati wins in a land slide.

[goodhawk]

Yea, I think - 5 hrs away  . . . I'd be buying a paper copy of full service man. ( if one is avail., even for $50. - 60.) and finding a good local shop that does metric bikes. it's all similar stuff, really.
Parts are the problem, probably. internet ? - things like brake pads might be interchangeable with say Ducati . . . I think the basic Aprilia V twin is considered a good modern design.

[Clint64]

A good shop should be able to handle most all the items required with the proper manuals.  My bother in law works in a KTM shop and has handled most of the requirements on mine.  Brake pads are easily ordered thru the shop as well as most other items.  Mine has 24k miles on it now and is up for a valve check.  If you like the bike, I would go for it as they are a great deal used. HTH

[thatguy]

I work on bikes for a living so I maintain my own.My '04 Tuono is a brick.Just finished the valve clearance check at 43K+.Hasn't changed since it was new.That says a lot about the engine.Ask around about how my bike gets ridden.I don't abuse it but it does get ridden hard.Gas tires and oil is all it's needed so far.Best bike I've ever owned and that's not a short list.

[keystonejenks]

I work on bikes for a living so I maintain my own.My '04 Tuono is a brick.Just finished the valve clearance check at 43K+.Hasn't changed since it was new.That says a lot about the engine.Ask around about how my bike gets ridden.I don't abuse it but it does get ridden hard.Gas tires and oil is all it's needed so far.

I can speak in regards to how thatguy rides his Tuono. He rides like a dainty San Franciscoer who wears skin tight mesh shirts with no sleeves.   Just kidding. He rides that bike like he stole it!

[thatguy]

San Franciscoer?????WTF is that?