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Buying an '04 RSV 1000 R factory - please help!

bass

bass

Joined Sep 2009
6 Posts | 0+
Slovenia
First of all hello to everyone! :)

I came across a rediculously mint condition '04 RSV factory with a bargain price tag and I must admit - it's love at first sight. :inlove

Since love is blind, I am turning to you, the respected owners, for some advice on how to keep this love from turning into a nightmare.

I know about the swing arm recall (did some searching), that issue has been sorted out by the first owner.

Are there any further issues I should be concerned about? :dunno

Your help will be greatly appreciated. :thumbup

Best regards,

bass
 
what do you call a bargain price tag, ive got one there are so many things that go wrong with these bikes it would take me an hour to list them all, but dont worry about what can go wrong just buy it and ride it till you kill it :thumbup
 
Hi bass, do a search for battery, and brown connector, this can be problematic if not spotted early enough but if you do get any problems then your in the right place for help :thumbup

Welcome to the zone :thumbup
 
They can have some issues so be prepared to work on it. But you would be buying a piece of Italian art.
 
Make sure the Suspension Linkage plates have been replace with the AF1 spec ones or better as these [ BREAK WITHOUT WARNING ] 2 friends had their snap on their 04 RSVR's while riding one got of lightly with a righten off bike the other has spent the last 1-1/2 trying to walk & talk properly after figthing for has life for 8 weeks in a coma ! Aprilia still want admit they ****** up by making these smaller & thinner from the 98-03 models .
 
It's not all doom and gloom mate, My 04 Factory has taken me to switzerland and Italy 3 times, and countless miles of fun in the uk. It has only let me down once when the immoblizer failed. As said before, check the brown connectors from the generator to the reg/rec. Also the white connector under the pilion seat. I have changed the rear links for AF1 racing ones. I have changed the starter relay to the Yamaha one (higher Amp rated).
Remember, ALWAYS keep her hooked up to a battery optimizer.
Great bike mate, go buy, ride hard, and enjoy!!
 
O, forgot to add, change the gearing to 16/42 and that makes her come alive, and still good for over 160mph!
 
Buy it....You will be delighted.

If you search any owners forum, you will find lists of make specific problems.
 
I luv mine, and I hate mine.

brown connecters
stator x2
cracked forks
immobilizer
clutch
spragclutch
killswicth
oil pressure sw
hard selection of neutral
poor backbrake

so i abuse her everyday for giving me so much grief.
 
although mine is a 57 plate 2 main things really apply - dont start it on open ( blipped ) throttle - dosent do the sprag any good and dont rely on the back brake - apart from checks and maintence be good and enjoy :doug
 
Thanks a lot guys, this helps a lot!

Since I already have an alfa romeo, I was expecting a bit of that italian style build quality.
But since love and reason don't mix, I know my next car will be another alfa romeo, and my next bike the RSVR Factory. :)
The thing is, the bike has been bought in 07 and only has a bit over 6kkm on the clock. The tires are I think still the original factory fit SuperCorsas...the bike is NEW for a third of the price of new. The brake fluid and the oil have also been changed very recently. So it's as mint as they come.

The battery is a big issue, since I haven't the luxury of conecting a charger.
The suspension linkage plates are also a concern, since I'm not exactly flyweight category, are there better ones available from Aprilia?
The two things that are also worrying are the stator and the sprag clutch, mostly because my english (and online dictionaries for that matter) doesn't stretch to such bespoke technical terms. :)
Could someone please explain these two doo-hickies, so I know what to look at?

P.S.: Going for a thorough check of the bike tomorow, hope for a test ride too, fingers crossed :)
 
Last edited:
bass said:
Thanks a lot guys, this helps a lot!

So it's as mint as they come.....


hope for a test ride too...

fingers crossed :)
Click to expand...


Pretty much nailed it there Bass. If its mint, you like it when you ride it then buy it......

and keep your fingers crossed :thumbup

A lot can go wrong with any bike and in my experience these bikes far outweigh risk with REWARD :doug
 
bass - you cant really check the sprag , connectors without stripping the bike down - like beechy says - u ride it - if u like it u buy at if the price is right come on down , its italian and preventitive maintence is needed - that depends on how mechanically / practically minded you are , i love mine as im sure all the members here love theres ,the sound , the grunt , the smile make it all worth while :)
 
beechy said:
Pretty much nailed it there Bass. If its mint, you like it when you ride it then buy it......

and keep your fingers crossed :thumbup

A lot can go wrong with any bike and in my experience these bikes far outweigh risk with REWARD :doug
Click to expand...

beechy

does the 05 bike have the suspension linkage issue do you know ?

dave
 
bump
bass said:
The suspension linkage plates are also a concern, since I'm not exactly flyweight category, are there better ones available from Aprilia?
Click to expand...

P.S.: The thorough check and test ride has been postponed till tomorow, hope to get some sleep tonight... :roll
 
Have a look on the AF1 site in America, and look for the uprated link plates. They cost me about £50 i think, was a few years ago now. Basically, they are thicker around the pivot points so they wont snap through. If you are not that good at spannering, i would suggest you get someone who is to fit them. You dont want them falling off!!
 
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