07 RSVR compared to my 2001 R1 for reliability.

Lets get this out the way first, but I do love my RSVR but wondering long term if it will survive.

When I got the RSVR mid December 2013 it had 7395 miles on the clock and was in mint condition. In the last 4 years the previous owner had done 1700 miles on it and had a full Aprilia dealer service history.
Since then I have put 1000 miles on it and have encountered the problems listed below already.

1 - Battery died after 3 weeks, even though kept nicely charged up.
2 - Common problem twice the shop I got it from have tried getting the rear break right, now this week it stopped working at all. How can a manufacturer be happy with a product that is not fit for purpose.
3 - right hand Ohlins fork seal now leaking so waiting for that to be fixed.
4 - Every so often stalls at traffic lights for no reason, starts no problem but not the point.

Now my 2001 R1 purchased with 22k on the clock and had 57k when sold and apart from changing the usual stuff like tyres and chain and sprockets in all that time it had the Rectifier fail and that was it.
Now which looks like the better purchase, sad but true.

1. I dont like ctec charger becuse the have destoyed to much batterys, if you dont use bike for 3 month unconnect the battery(have not killd any battery yet on any of my 4 aprilias)
2. Rear break i never use...i close trottle and brake with front brake instead, fix for the rear brake would been another rearset that moves brake cylinder.
3. Fork seal have trouble with leaking 00-03 RSVR, 04-> Factory, RSV-R 06-> another seals can cure the trouble.
4. Get a slip on and map2.

Hi Olympic!

1. European manufacturers will never better Japanese reliability.
2. Batteries have a finite life - buy a Motobatt (it does, however, mean a simple mod to the retaining clamp).
3. Rear brake - useless in standard form - as said above - change the type/position/leverage of the master cylinder. Rear brakes are important - you cannot achieve good, smooth slow control without it.
4. Fork seals (especially the OEM) seem not last long - once changed, they seem to last satisfactorily.
5. Stalling - classic 'throttle bodies need balancing' symptom.

Although you're a distance away, Griff at Home - Aprilia Performance is an absolute wizard - well worth a visit.

Best of luck - the RSV-R is well worth persevering with - once sorted, they're magic . .

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies I will get the throttle bodies checked.
Now I know batteries are a service item, but when you look at this forum and the repeated problems that owners have that are just described as a RSVR quirk.

Take the back break for example it was fine when I got the bike, not much strength but ok. Now it lost its power during a ride and now not working at all, imagine you had been happily breaking with it then it not work 5 mins later in a emergency situation. This is not a quirk but a genuine safety failure how did it get type approval.

We also have not even touched on the rear suspension linkages, I am having all the parts replaced on mine in 1 weeks time just to be on the safe side.

Batteries - A feature of big (high compression) twins is that they need high CCA to spin them over. Not only that, but the battery must be able to sustain a good voltage whilst cranking. The difference I noted after fitting a Motobatt (an AGM battery) was considerable.

Rear brake - the OEM master cylinder lies alongside the crankcase and therefore gets HOT. Some folks fit insulation between the two components, but the real fix is a different arrangement. Here's mine (apologies for the pic - it was taken with the calliper as the subject):


View attachment 5343


Rear Suspension - Beware! The needle rollers are uncaged - and there's a lot of them!

Bought my RSV (06) at 3 months and 1200 miles old. Its now got 68500 on it. Faults? One stator, one set of fork seals. Had a R1, bought with 2.000 miles on, gearbox ate itself at 13.000. Kawasaki ZX9R head gasket blew at 18.000. GSXR1100 smoking badly at 50.000. So, maybe I've been lucky with the Aprilia, or maybe unlucky with the Jap stuff? The Italian stuff these days is far better than the days of old, plus many of the Jap manufacturers are sourcing parts from China which is proving to be not that reliable (Honda generators? Blade Gearboxes)

Don't get me wrong I like the bike and pleased I bought the ohlins model, but still think it just has the feel of a very expensive parts bin special. Some things on it are a work of art, then you look at the back brake set up and it's just junk.
Love the torque of the engine and had it almost flat out so know it's plenty quick enough, but not as brutal fast as the R1.

I almost sold mine because of the same things as you mentioned, crap brake battery issues and stalling all the time along with a few other " quirks" but now I have them all sorted I love it and can't imagine selling but I do agree with you the rear brake is a serious safety issue and should never of been designed in that way especially as these bikes are so easy to wheelie and your rear brake is your last chance of saving a flip!!!

Back brake

Agree on that, the only way I've kept mine working over the years, is by putting a railway sleeper on the pedal overnight which forces out the air in the system.