Smoothie Gets a New Bike! Aprilia, natch.

[MisterSmooth]

It's a wonderful day, the day you buy a brand new motorcycle.  The bike rumbles away unfamiliarly beneath you and the intoxicating perfume of offgassing manufacturing protectants wafts over you at every stop light.

Yesterday I went to Moto International, sold both my Tuono and vintage Mille R, and rode away on one of these.  It's a 2013 Aprilia RSV4!  The two-time World Superbikes champion, the bike of Max Biaggi and Sylvain Guintoli (a guy with an Italian name who is inexplicably French).

It's yellow and looks like an RSV4.  But on STN, it doesn't exist without pictures...





And here is one happy guy.  Exhilarated and a little "what did I just do?" surprised.

[Sport-Touring]

[Dutch]

Sweet ride!

[Orson]

Holy Kwap!  

 

[M.Brane]

 Congrats! That is a fine machine. Was real hard for me to resist opening my wallet for one of those when I was at Pro Italia recently.

[miles]

 

[Stripes]

Congratulations! Fan-freaking-tastic! I'm going to the Aprilia dealer in Cleveland, OH over the Labor Day weekend! Who knows, I may just end up w/ one of those too! I always wanted an Aprilia. Again, congratulations!  

[st2sam]

Good things come to those that wait!   Or whatever!

In other words, "you deserve it"......

Best of luck with her Smoothie!  

[james_g]

And I thought you weren't totally head over heels for the V4 mill....   at least that's what your Tuono review said.

Congrats! I have no doubt you'll love it. The V4 is intoxicating with that sound   not to mention the power   .

We expect one of your usual write ups instead of this short announcement sometime in the near future.

james

[MisterSmooth]

Oh, the engine is fantastic.        One of the best ever.

I'm still not sure what planet the Aprilia V4 bikes are made for, though.   We'll see how my clean driving record holds up.  


So far, much of my experience of the bike is caused by lawyers.   This bike has more legal department stickers on it than any bike I have ever seen.    It's a four hour job to carefully peel the warning stickers off various fairing parts and frame spars.   Cause you don't want to booger up your sparkly new ride, right?  

[miles]

I have never seen a bike company so enamored of warning stickers as Aprilia.

[garry]

Awesome. Congrats!

[Rincewind]

A banana-yellow Ape - very fitting.    Enjoy!

[fxrbill]

Nice.I see you got the XLR8 pillion pad  

[MisterSmooth]

Nice.I see you got the XLR8 pillion pad  

 


There actually is a "passenger seat."   It measures about 4" wide and 6" long with sort of a postmodern grab strap that would actually be impossible to grab.     Dave at Moto International refers to it as the "Thong of Passenger Seats."  

[viffergyrl]

  Yes I scrolled up to look at the original pillion seat. I can say that when riding pillion on the VFR, 7000 - 7500 is the rpm of choice.

Verrrryyyy niiiiiiiiiccce Mister Smooth. I look forward to your comments and/or first ride report.  

Indeed there IS something about those V4s...

[Volfy]

Love that yellow!  Ape finally put ABS on the 2013.  I've officially out of excuses not to park one of these Italian V4s in my garage.  Okay... there is still the matter of Tuono V4R Factory.  

anyhow, congrats on arguably the best Italian litre sport right now.

[vfrrider]

Even with pics its a myth, I can't afford one.

The V4 is magic to me. I guess I'll keep my 93 VFR forever, or at least until I can afford the RSV4 or the Desmosedici.

Congrats.

Larry
VFRrider

[2RR2NV]

so here's an off the wall question....

what's the maintenance like on one of those?


and CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!  i soo want one of those, but the nearest Aprilia dealer is  Denver (i think). OUCH!!

[DkKnight]

Congrats Mr Smooth - badass bike !!

DK

[james_g]

so here's an off the wall question....

what's the maintenance like on one of those?


and CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!  i soo want one of those, but the nearest Aprilia dealer is  Denver (i think). OUCH!!

Actually it's just oil changes until 12k miles then the valves should be checked. I wouldn't hesitate to get one if you want one.

james

[R Doug]

The Emperor gives you a big thumbs up!

[Stripes]

Who?

[R Doug]

Who?

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/580/Motorcycles/Max-Biaggi.aspx

[Stripes]

I know who Max Biaggi is... nevermind. It was supposed to be sarcastic.

[bubba zanetti]

Who?

The Straight Man in the video ... Faster !     I hear ya !

Poor Max, he did live in a rather large shadow ....  

[bubba zanetti]

I am interested in the maint as well. Was drooling over a Factory in Spokane they are trying to clear.

Looking forward to an initial ride report on ergs, range etc ...

Oh, congrats !  I am not really envious, as I am a one bike guy just now, but I do enjoy the Ape mystique and functionality.

Oh again ... calling Croak !  

[keystonejenks]

 

[flips21]

That is one sweet ride Smoothie.  Looking forward to seeing (and hearing) it in action next month.

Flip

[brianhe]

Nice machine.  There's just something about Italian design isn't there?

[2RR2NV]

Actually it's just oil changes until 12k miles then the valves should be checked. I wouldn't hesitate to get one if you want one.

james

for either of them (RSV4 or Tuono?)  kinda planning for the future...

[james_g]

for either of them (RSV4 or Tuono?)  kinda planning for the future...

They have essentially the same motor. The maint intervals are the same according to the manuals. Everything seems easy to get to as well. Valves and plugs might be a pain though.

James

[BigBlock]

Congrats Mr.Smooth, I am jealous  .  What a gorgeous bike, love the colour
It would be kinda nice if we could see the bike in Baker City in September, hint,hint.  

[MisterSmooth]

Congrats Mr.Smooth, I am jealous  .  What a gorgeous bike, love the colour
It would be kinda nice if we could see the bike in Baker City in September, hint,hint.  

Hey, it's the 'Block!   Nice to hear from you.    

I'd enjoy meeting you guys in Baker, especially you and XLR8.  But I'm going to World Superbikes at Laguna Seca (it's the following weekend).

Appropriately enough, Sylvain Guintoli is leading WSBK right now on a...wait for it...Aprilia RSV4.  



And 2RR2NV, I just checked the manual and maintenance for the first 12,000 miles is basically two oil changes at 600 and 6,000 miles.  At 12,000 miles Aprilia wants the valves checked.   So not much maintenance.

I had a long chat with MI's best Aprilia tech.  He said that the only real pain in the ass issues they've seen are with the electronics.  There are a lot of sophisticated electronics on the Tuono and RSV4:  The bikes have three ignition maps (S, R, and T), quick shifters, launch control, wheelie control, traction control, and ABS.

Unlike, for example, working on a Guzzi or a Harley.   Electronic issues like these can be mysterious.    

[2RR2NV]

Hey, it's the 'Block!   Nice to hear from you.    

I'd enjoy meeting you guys in Baker, especially you and XLR8.  But I'm going to World Superbikes at Laguna Seca (it's the following weekend).

Appropriately enough, Sylvain Guintoli is leading WSBK right now on a...wait for it...Aprilia RSV4.  



And 2RR2NV, I just checked the manual and maintenance for the first 12,000 miles is basically two oil changes at 600 and 6,000 miles.  At 12,000 miles Aprilia wants the valves checked.   So not much maintenance.

I had a long chat with MI's best Aprilia tech.  He said that the only real pain in the ass issues they've seen are with the electronics.  There are a lot of sophisticated electronics on the Tuono and RSV4:  The bikes have three ignition maps (S, R, and T), quick shifters, launch control, wheelie control, traction control, and ABS.

Unlike, for example, working on a Guzzi or a Harley.   Electronic issues like these can be mysterious.    

Thanks!!!

[Oxblood]

That is a sweet looking ride! Congrats.

[DogBoy]

Late to the party as usual. Congratulations on getting yet another super cool bike! Enjoy every mile and fill the ride reports forum with pics and text.  


And I still hate you.

[MisterSmooth]

Late to the party as usual. Congratulations on getting yet another super cool bike! Enjoy every mile and fill the ride reports forum with pics and text.  


And I still hate you.

Thanks, DB.  Hey, where cool bikes are concerned I gotta keep up with expatbrit.  


I hate me too, but I'm all I got.    

[XLR8]

It's a wonderful day, the day you buy a brand new motorcycle.  The bike rumbles away unfamiliarly beneath you and the intoxicating perfume of offgassing manufacturing protectants wafts over you at every stop light.

Yesterday I went to Moto International, sold both my Tuono and vintage Mille R, and rode away on one of these.  It's a 2013 Aprilia RSV4!  The two-time World Superbikes champion, the bike of Max Biaggi and Sylvain Guintoli (a guy with an Italian name who is inexplicably French).

It's yellow and looks like an RSV4.  But on STN, it doesn't exist without pictures...





And here is one happy guy.  Exhilarated and a little "what did I just do?" surprised.

How did I miss this? Where have I been? That bike is gorgeous. Congratulations.

[viffergyrl]

Is it time for a ride report yet?

[GTS_Rider]

Most excellent!

Guess I'm a little late to run across this , musta just got a bump.

Still, it's revving my engine in anticipation of the live WSBK viewing (and the Aprilia show) at Laguna in a week or so.

Guintoli and Laverty nipping at the heals of Sykes in a real close battle for the Championship, good times!

And yeah..., what about that ride report?

 

[Royal Tiger]

Congrats!

I'm not sure if I like the yellow though.  I traded my silver Mille R on my ST and have been anxious for aprilia #3 to join the stable.  I took my girlfriend out on a yellow Tuono V4 and I loved it, but I'm still leaning towards the RSV4R.  They did away with white and I'm not fond of flat black.  Blue would be nice.

[fxrbill]

Congrats!

I'm not sure if I like the yellow though.  I traded my silver Mille R on my ST and have been anxious for aprilia #3 to join the stable.  I took my girlfriend out on a yellow Tuono V4 and I loved it, but I'm still leaning towards the RSV4R.  They did away with white and I'm not fond of flat black.  Blue would be nice.

The 2014 Tuono comes in white with ABS.

[Royal Tiger]

That's a thought.  I have to ride a Tuono V4 and RSV4R back to back.  My favorite aprilia scheme ever was the blue & white Tuono "checkerboard".

[MisterSmooth]

That's a thought.  I have to ride a Tuono V4 and RSV4R back to back.  My favorite aprilia scheme ever was the blue & white Tuono "checkerboard".

I remember your silver 2003 Mille R.  That was a very nice bike.  

Riding the Tuono and RSV4 back to back would be an interesting comparo.  I rode the new Tuono and found it just amazing.   But for some reason that crazy motor just seems to work better for me in sportbike form.     Maybe it's just easier to hang on to above 8000 RPM.  

The RSV4 has basically no back seat, however.   You mention riding on the Tuono with your girlfriend...if your intentions are for any two-up riding at all, the RSV4 is NOT the weapon of choice.  Even if you're just nipping down to the local Quik-E-Mart.

[james_g]

Maybe it's just easier to hang on to above 8000 RPM.  

That is no lie right there. The Tuono is a handful at full chat and the upright riding position means you're out there doing your best to not get kicked off   .

james

[Royal Tiger]

I remember your silver 2003 Mille R.  That was a very nice bike.  

Riding the Tuono and RSV4 back to back would be an interesting comparo.  I rode the new Tuono and found it just amazing.   But for some reason that crazy motor just seems to work better for me in sportbike form.     Maybe it's just easier to hang on to above 8000 RPM.  

The RSV4 has basically no back seat, however.   You mention riding on the Tuono with your girlfriend...if your intentions are for any two-up riding at all, the RSV4 is NOT the weapon of choice.  Even if you're just nipping down to the local Quik-E-Mart.

Thanks.  She was my favorite bike of the close to 20 I've owned.

[fxrbill]

That's a thought.  I have to ride a Tuono V4 and RSV4R back to back.  My favorite aprilia scheme ever was the blue & white Tuono "checkerboard".

The ABS Tuono will be in the US late Oct.-early Nov. $14,449

[kneedrag05]

Nice ride Smoothie!!!! Nice to see I'm not the only crazy one

Do you plan on touring with your RSV4 at all? I'd be interested to see what mods/experiences you have touring on yours (if you do) because as of right now I have never talked to anyone else who has used this as a long distance weapon.

[fxrbill]

Nice ride Smoothie!!!! Nice to see I'm not the only crazy one

Do you plan on touring with your RSV4 at all? I'd be interested to see what mods/experiences you have touring on yours (if you do) because as of right now I have never talked to anyone else who has used this as a long distance weapon.

Check this site for others with mods http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/forum.php I usually don't go into the RSV4 section.Too busy drooling over the TuonoV4.

[MisterSmooth]

Nice ride Smoothie!!!! Nice to see I'm not the only crazy one

Do you plan on touring with your RSV4 at all? I'd be interested to see what mods/experiences you have touring on yours (if you do) because as of right now I have never talked to anyone else who has used this as a long distance weapon.

Well, I took it from Seattle to World Superbikes in Monterey last weekend.   Ride report to follow...

[kneedrag05]

Check this site for others with mods http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/forum.php I usually don't go into the RSV4 section.Too busy drooling over the TuonoV4.

I frequent that sight but I haven't seen much about touring on the RSV4. The time or two I've posed the question to them I am told to buy a Touno. I, however, do not want a Tuono (they are sweet, I just don't want one) I want to use my RSV4 for EVERYTHING. Thats all I have to say about that.....haha.

[Croak]

Get a Ventura rack and bags, plop on a Sargent seat, install a Powerlet socket, wire up a GPS, throw on a tank bag, add some rubber-topped MFW Vario adjustable pegs, buy a couple 1L MSR fuel bottles, and have at it.

[Virginian]

Late to the party as well! Enjoy one of the worlds greatest bikes ever made in my opinion.  

Eric