Normally in Rural Brecon fella Bat **** stops any kind of planning or conversion ideas people have on land or houses. Its surprising how far reaching influences like Bat extends eh
Joined Dec 2010
161 Posts | 0+
London West
I think you might be interested to know my opinion about S/C. I would put S/C reputation under question or it might be just me who don't want to use overpriced services (I found complaints). I went yesterday to clarify and see how bad it was (bearings) almost decided to fix it (earlier over the phone I told him I won't) Front is clear and headrace bearings needs replacement. I started to doubt what he was saying about the rear. He said that only one rear bearing in the linkage is bad, but the others might be also knackered. Quote of £195 was for one bearing + 2h labour (if everything goes fine, no rust, good thread etc.) but we all know it never that way ))) so I think they would charge me more... my reply was that for £120 you can get complete Aprilia con rod with bearings and to replace it won't take 2h for sure. 20 minutes job with good preparation (http://www.joe250.com/motorcycles/tuono/linkplates/linkplates.html) He didn't want to comment on that making himself busy printing my bill for diagnostics. I've asked about the diagnostic bill will it be deducted from the bill if I decide to leave the bike and fix it. Suddenly he become rude and asked me to go and find places where diagnostic is included. That was last drop - I decided I will not service my bike here.
Joined Jul 2008
1K Posts | 0+
North Lincolnshire, UK
thanks for making me laugh on a busy morning.
Southern Cross are one of very few places that REALLY know their **** about Apes. Even Griff will agree they are top blokes, and they are competitors. I am sure most of that bill is labour - £400 is only about a days worth and it includes parts.
Joined Dec 2010
161 Posts | 0+
London West
thanks for making me laugh on a busy morning.
Southern Cross are one of very few places that REALLY know their **** about Apes. Even Griff will agree they are top blokes, and they are competitors. I am sure most of that bill is labour - £400 is only about a days worth and it includes parts.
they might be good but overpriced; full service at Griffs £300, full service at S/C £500 - easy calculation ))
I'm having service done by Griff on 18th August. 12K on my Tuoldo for £305 including suspension set up. Can't wait as he's coming to Gilo's garage in Bristol. Ready for the ride on the 20th August up to North Wales. Can't wait to see if theres any difference in the bike. Might ask him to check the sprockets on there as well.
Iff you havent had your rear linkidge shock bearings done , by 12000 miles they will need doing that's evry one as they dry out rust and will seaz up then your dog bone will snap , fownd this out from the best and most respeckted aprilia Macanick in the UK and his Name is Ian Mackro .:thumbup
Freestyler if thats the case thats an extra couple of hundred on top of the service from whats been said
Yeah it all depends wich dealers you yous afishel aprilia dealers have been told to suck it up a bit ,I think you will find from Piaggio Aprilia , but Aprilia Stealers yeah they are going to charge your Arse for it , iff they do it at all ,and then still charge you . I wood whont to be there to see its done properley ,I have seen three RSV'R's since the begining of this year with snaped Dog bones and seazed linkidges that had saposedley been done and the bikes had all been serviceist through , what seems to be evry ones favaret aprilia nut strangler on here !:thumbdown
Joined Jul 2008
1K Posts | 26+
Mate...joe250's post shows how to swap out the link plates....not service the linkages...the link plate swap is simple enough and takes about 20-30 minutes as long as everything goes to plan, and the needles dont drop out.
BUT there is no way you are going to get that dogbone out to service it properly, cleaned, lubed back in, in that time...impossible....even if you had Jerremy Burgess helping you.
The bolt that connects the dogbone to the frame cannot be removed until the rear exhaust header has been dropped...and it's as fiddly as ****.
You will need a 10mm 1/4" drive socket on a u/joint...with a 14" 1/4" extension. You just might get away with a 3/8" drive...but the last time I did it, I got so frustrated with it, I gave up and bought the 1/4" gear.
As well as bearings, budget for replacement exhaust gasket (about £8) it's not good practice to reuse...sods law dictates it's bound to leak when you've got it all back together.
Almost forgot.....take your time undoing the manifold nuts...if the are sized, use plenty of plus gas, or heat...don't force them...if you snap the stud, it'll be engine out time to drill retap.
I've travelled over 200 miles to s/c to get work done, and trust me, they know their ****...& they don't (not in my experience) rip peeps off..
Good luck chap...hope everything goes to plan:yes
Joined Jul 2008
1K Posts | 0+
North Lincolnshire, UK
I lubed the dog bone/linkages on both our bikes when I fitted AF1 link plates. It takes at least an hour (my bike having learned what exactly to do) using an Abba stand, bike lift etc.
I dont think it's on the service list, and as I posted earlier it's not properly lubed in the factory.
Southern Cross. In 2009 on my way to catch the Santander ferry from Portsmouth, the fuel pump blew the internal link pipe in the tank, and my bike stalled at a set of lights and refused to start. After the usual attempts at everything, the RAC bloke asked me if my local dealer was any good. They aren't, I know more about Aprilia's than they do. So I suggested he ring SC for advice. Don talked us through how to check the fule pump and how to try to kick into life - no joy. nearest Ape dealer was quoting me 10-14 days to get the bike sorted. We rang SC again, at about 3 in the afternooon, and asked them. Yes mate, we can fix that today if you can get here. RAC drove my bike into Kilburn from near Oxford arriving at SC about 4:30. The ripped Don's race bike fuel pump off his spare tank, and built me up a new one on my base plate using bits from a couple of other bikes. I rode back out at 6:00 and caught the Euro Tunnel Shuttle the following morning, holiday saved. Cost was about £160.
They are a brilliant and genuine bunch of lads, I am not surprised they charge more than Griff, they are in the heart of London, with all it's costs. Griff is on an industrial estate near Tamworth. I would use either without any hesitation, we went to Griff this year for both bikes, he's nearer. Next year perhaps we can get him to come to us.
I dont think it's on the service list, and as I posted earlier it's not properly lubed in the factory.
Southern Cross. In 2009 on my way to catch the Santander ferry from Portsmouth, the fuel pump blew the internal link pipe in the tank, and my bike stalled at a set of lights and refused to start. After the usual attempts at everything, the RAC bloke asked me if my local dealer was any good. They aren't, I know more about Aprilia's than they do. So I suggested he ring SC for advice. Don talked us through how to check the fule pump and how to try to kick into life - no joy. nearest Ape dealer was quoting me 10-14 days to get the bike sorted. We rang SC again, at about 3 in the afternooon, and asked them. Yes mate, we can fix that today if you can get here. RAC drove my bike into Kilburn from near Oxford arriving at SC about 4:30. The ripped Don's race bike fuel pump off his spare tank, and built me up a new one on my base plate using bits from a couple of other bikes. I rode back out at 6:00 and caught the Euro Tunnel Shuttle the following morning, holiday saved. Cost was about £160.
They are a brilliant and genuine bunch of lads, I am not surprised they charge more than Griff, they are in the heart of London, with all it's costs. Griff is on an industrial estate near Tamworth. I would use either without any hesitation, we went to Griff this year for both bikes, he's nearer. Next year perhaps we can get him to come to us.
