Comparing an RSVR to a Multistrada 1000S ??

Ok, I know I risk any local guys coming round to my house & setting fire to my shed for this :nana, and in most ways it's a dumb ass question, but if you'll indulge me....

I was thinking of getting a Multstrada, probably 1000S with the benefit of the Ohlins front & rear, but as a good one would fetch about £4000+ I knew it wouldn't be for a while yet. Then, for some reason, I stumbled across V_Senna's RSVR advert on here, and I'm still finding it hard to believe that you can now buy a very nice RSVR for just over £2500 !! So I'm now SERIOUSLY thinking about that bike.
I've not ridden either the Multi or the RSVR, haviing still got my well served VFR750. Long story, but a couple of years back I bought a Falco, with the intention of trading in my VFR. In the end I kept the VFR because I just didn't get on with the Falco. To be honest, and it pains me to admit, I bought a duff one. It had so many issues in the first few weeks that it really put me off, despite Griff's initial masterly hand in servicing it and replacing the clutch among other things. Don't get me wrong, the engine was a stonker in comparison to the VFR, and the brakes so much better too of course, but there was just something about the bike that didn't work for me, and not being able to get through a week without something going wrong or being a niggling problem didn't help. In the end I gave up and sold it on and went back to my VFR. I had decided to just stick with the bike I know so well, and spend about £1000 refurbing it, new paint job, replacing the front end with some USD forks, upgrading brakes etc etc, but I don't think I can face a whole summer off the bike (circumstances mean the rebuild will take that long) so I've been wondering what else I could get that would excite me but work as an everyday bike too - hence the Multistrada option. BUT...............there's something so appealing about the RSV, and more so the RSVR that I can't help wondering if I should give it another go, or admit my skill level will NEVER gell with this bike and just leave it. The Multi has loads going for it, by all accounts, but falls pretty short in the looks department, and this is one area I just can't settle - I just cannot buy a bike that doesn't excite me, but the one's that do are almost always one's that don't actually fit my lifestyle. I should buy something like a BMW F800ST - enough power, reliable, economical etc etc, but when I look at or hear that bike you could take my pulse and think I'd flatlined. I should almost definitely NOT buy an RSVR but I've always loved the look, and the sound, and.... well, you all know where I'm coming from.

Arse, I really wish I hadn't seen that RSVR for sale :inlove For what I was budgeting to spend on the VFR refurb I could add it to the sale of the VFR & get this beauty instead :dunno

But, back to the title - can anyone throw some light onto the comparison between a Multi & and RSV, preferably Ohlins shod both.

As I see it the Multi is going to offer a great blend of twin cylinder fun and relative ease of use, reasonable economy, good pillion & luggage potential, and a certain pride of ownership, but the RSVR is going to properly light my candle, hell no, it's going to burn the bloody thing down every time I open the garage and look at it, but it's also going to infuriate me, probably just like the Falco did, be way less economical, be a handful on dodgy surface B roads, be pretty uncomfortable (in comparison) for this 52 year old fart, make me look like a **** as more skilled riders on lesser machinery hurl past me, be an arse to carry anything on (despite Ventura, Kriega & Baglux kit), scare the bejeesus out of my wife as pillion (and probably put her off being pillion way quicker than a comfy VFR or Multi), and just be too much hard work as a day to day bike (I have no choice on this, it has to fulfill that role)..................

.........or there again, if I bought a nice, clean, sorted RSVR, got the suspension and rest of the bike properly serviced & set up for me, learned to ride better, get on a track at least once in my life, and accepted that highs do not come without equivalent lows, maybe I could live with an RSVR.

I know it sounds daft, but one reason I'd like to get back into the Aprilia fold is to be able to have my bike serviced by the master. I only went to Griff once, when I first got the Falco, and I kinda miss being part of that customer base - you're a lucky bunch having him service your machines - top bloke he is.

Any thoughts? - apart from bugger off and don't darken our door again :biggrin

What sort of day to day use are you talking about? What distance and road type (city/country/motorway) Is this day to day all year?

Rob

Rob

I have to use the bike to commute to work, which is a pain because it's through Shropshire's beautiful countryside - 25 miles each way :biggrin. Seriously though, my route's a mixture of some great roads both tight B and sweeping A's and no tedious Motorway. I use to use my bike all year round - the poor VFR has seen some bloomin' awful weather, but I've come to my senses. Like a lot of riders, I resisted alternatives during winter, actually, that wasn't so much a choice, and had to use my bike, but although there is a certain bonkers satisfaction getting through ice & salt in the dark, I've finally realised that the old 'fair weather' biker tag isn't one to be necessarily avoided. Besides, I really, really hate salt, and it's affect on the bike and your vision when riding. So I'm no longer doing hard winter riding, but will still ride in the wet, and cold, just not salt, snow, ice and all that nonsense. So commuting is an easy half hour, allowing for town, or 45 mins if I go the glorious scenic route - ehem . For the past couple of years I've not used the bike for much else, for various reasons, but I aim to correct that, and get out much more at weekends, do the odd small tour around the UK, and try my hand at at some track days, though I'll defo be in the novice camp.
I appreciate it's a waste me even thinking about a bike that only really comes to life after the national speed limit, if all I'm doing is commuting & the odd bimble, but I'm prepared to admit that some of my issues with the Falco were down to me not using it enough, or in the right way, and that I needed to give it time to raise my level to appreciate the difference in what I had. Bike ownership is a weird thing isn't it, and the issue of having a machine that raises my pulse, in a number of ways, and even scares me a bit to be honest, is part of the equation when I make a choice, but I also have to weigh that up with at least some modicum of common sense - it's bloomin' transport after all, not a work of art, and has to work on that level too. I've had a 900SS and LeMansII in the past so I guess that's where the Italian draw started. Weirdly enough, the first LeMans I had was one that crippled me on the test ride, but ended up fitting me like a glove, even commuting thru London on it - but I was quite a few years younger

I had a lemans II, my first italian 2 wheeler, I wrote it off while riding through the winter about 12 years ago. I still bike commute about 30 minutes each way along some winding roads in west/north yorkshire but no longer use the bike from about October until March. The rsv/mille is a really nice bike, it makes you grin like an italian bike should. I've had mine about 18 months and no big issues with it. It was pretty sorted and well looked after by previous owners. It's clearly not the most comfortable bike and it does cross my mind that at 52 I also need to start thinking about something less stressful on the body like a tuono or falco. I'm reluctant to do anything too drastic like putting tuono bars on it.

I've seen the multistrada and know someone with one (it's not very old). He loves it but I think even he'd admit it's an ugly duckling compared to the rsv. Would you really want an ugly italian girlfriend

The Multi's probably a more practical daily hack than the rsv but not sure what the reliability of older ducs is like.

Rob

apostrophe said:

Would you really want an ugly italian girlfriend

Click to expand...

No...but then, I dont look at the mantlepiece when poking the fire....but when I'm finished...I do :biggrin