Smoothie Gets a New Bike! Aprilia, natch.

[R Doug]

The Emperor gives you a big thumbs up!

[Sport-Touring]

[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?