Hello everyone. New here and to RSV's. Got some questions already!!

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Peter319

Joined Sep 2012

65 Posts | 0+

Discussion Starter
• Sep 28, 2012

• #1

Hello All,
I bought my first Mille yesterday.
Previously had 20 years riding on big 4s, a couple of strokers and most recently an SP1.
The Mille is an 04 plate (old shape but according to the dealer an 04 model which differs from the 03 ??!?!?!) with 9000 miles and one owner. It came from a main dealer and at some point has been front ended as there is a crease down the plastic headlight and the front plastics have a crappy (close up) paint job. It's not too bad from a distance....................but we've all known ***** like that eh!
A couple of questions straight away........................
I'm going to repaint the plastics but will need a new headlight. Am I right in thinking that the 03/04 headlight is a different size from earlier ones?
Also, the gearbox seems s**t compared to other bikes I've had with a difficult to engage 6th, false neutrals between 5/6 and 4/5 and real neutral a bugger to find. Is this the norm or do i need a strip, inspection and rebuild? No probs if I do but I don't want to start if the boxes are normally like this!
Anyway, the bike came with all the history, is HPI clear, has new diablo rosso's, 8 months MOT and by spring will be a beauty :biggrin
I got it cheap so can't really complain whatever it throws up.
Thanks in advance
Peter
p.s. I'll add a pic when I work out how :blush

 

theruck

Joined May 2009

472 Posts | 0+

Slovakia

• Sep 28, 2012

• #2

first of all the 03 model is different than 04 model. 03 model has one large headligt (the one i have)

while the 04 model has 2 lights

the 99-01 models have different shape headlight than the 02-03 models as well.

false neutrals are normal you just need to kick in in with more force. she is a ***** . 6th gear makes me sometimes problems too but if i kick it in at 10 000 rpm it works 99% cases.

 

Last edited: Sep 28, 2012

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Paul Ali

Joined Aug 2012

366 Posts | 0+

Northallerton

• Sep 28, 2012

• #3

Is your chain at the right tension sometimes causes me to lose a gear and struggling finding neutral..

 

mad biff

Joined Apr 2011

454 Posts | 0+

scotland

• Sep 28, 2012

• #4

my first mille 00 model gearbox was perfect smooth as you like :biggrinand so was my 02 mille R wich i still have :thumbup.all good with no problems but my 08 mille R is a arse for getting neutral:angry its that bad i need to switch off engine first to save ******* around time lol ,but if it wont go mate dont force :jackit thats when you will **** it then it costs . make sure you have the propper engine oil ,also bleed your clutch , and it might be worth checking the clutch bearing (easy task) takes a few mins mate if the bearings ****** you should feel some vibes through the lever if so look into it soon mate . good luck :thumbup

 

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Peter319

Joined Sep 2012

65 Posts | 0+

Discussion Starter
• Sep 29, 2012

• #5

Thanks for all the advice people. My bike is obviously an 03 model on an 04 plate as it's the old shape with the big single headlight. Dea;ers are always full of s**t :roll
I'll be bleeding the clutch and hecking the bearing as well as checking chain tension etc. I'm sure it's just something to make as good as I can and get used to. I'll be adjusting the gear lever too as I've found that even a slight move can make all the difference with comfy changes. If anyone has an affordable 03 headlight for sale or even a knackered one with a good front then I'll be interested as I think that's about the only bit that I can't fix cosmetics wise.
Anyway, i'm finding the forum greatly useful and look forward to bugging you all with stupid questions for some time to come :smilie

 

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craig5

Joined Sep 2012

35 Posts | 0+

• Sep 30, 2012

• #6

hi peter where you from

 

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Peter319

Joined Sep 2012

65 Posts | 0+

Discussion Starter
• Sep 30, 2012

• #7

craig5 said:

hi peter where you from

Click to expand...

I spend the year living between the Northumberland coast and the Italian mountains. I've lived and worked all over the world so have taken plenty of bikes abroad, just not taken the Mille to Italy............................................yet!
Rode her back 5hrs from the dealers but even with a few downpours it was a good trip. She's now stripped (plastics) in my barn so I can decide what needs doing.

 

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craig5

Joined Sep 2012

35 Posts | 0+

• Sep 30, 2012

• #8

if it was me id just ride the bike 1st like i hav as only bought my gen 1 couple weeks ago would suggest gettin charger on batt as they do suffer the winter months

 

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Paul Ali

Joined Aug 2012

366 Posts | 0+

Northallerton

• Sep 30, 2012

• #9

Is it not just cheaper to buy the plastics?? Theres always somone selling some... Have a look on ebay or the for sale section on the forum

 

RSVMark

Joined Jul 2012

107 Posts | 0+

East Coast, North Island, New Zealand

• Oct 1, 2012

• #10

yeah the headlight was different from 98-00, then from 01-03, from what I can see. I have an 01 and the headlight from an 00 model didn't fit, as I found out after I bought it. 01 was the major update, with minor revisions to brakes etc from then on...

 

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Peter319

Joined Sep 2012

65 Posts | 0+

Discussion Starter
• Oct 1, 2012

• #11

Thanks for all your replies everyone. After stripping the bike it looks as if the only damage (apart from stickers) are the two inner bits on the fairings that are the outside edges of the air tubes into the frame................does that make sense??? The left one has the air temp sensor attached and they both contain a plastic grille.....................any sense now or do I need to find out how to upload a picture!!!?!!?!?! The top fairing is an RSVR item so that will be staying :grinning
I have loads of 98-01 plastics in a garage as I used to help a mate prep his race bikes and we always had loads of bits lying around. I've yet to dig through them and see if the older parts fit mine.
At some stage I'll be sorting out what I don't need and be sticking a shed load of bits in the for sale section. Exhausts, carbon bodywork etc etc.

 

theruck

Joined May 2009

472 Posts | 0+

Slovakia

• Oct 2, 2012

• #12

you cannot upload a picture you can only link an uploaded picture so if you have some web space or some image service on line like picasa from google or imageshack you can use the thord icon from the right to post a picture

 

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Peter319

Joined Sep 2012

65 Posts | 0+

Discussion Starter
• Oct 3, 2012

• #13

Thanks 'theruck'.
Here should be a picture of the Mille I have just bought.

And here should be one of my last bike before he Mille.

As you can see in the picture, the top fairing on the Mille is a slightly different red. It's an RSVR fairing so I'll probably keep it and repaint the bad bits. The SP1 had been crashed on the racetrack when I bought it and needed a complete rebuid as the gears were mangled, the exhausts bent and the plastics pretty bad. The picture of it shows what can be done with a bit of over winter fiddling :bigsmile
I plan to do the same to the Mille and have some goodies on the way already including a Remus Revolution carbon race can and link pipe.
I'll probably make a start on it this weekend time permitting.
It's great being on this forum and I'm learning a lot about Milles from various posts. Thanks.

 

Last edited: Oct 3, 2012

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RSV-Squid

Joined Jan 2012

188 Posts | 0+

UK

• Dec 10, 2012

• #14

Is this carbon can on the Mille now then?

 

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wizbit

Joined Feb 2011

295 Posts | 0+

• Dec 11, 2012

• #15

Peter, get some red rim tape on those brembos and they'll look sweet!

My nosey side wants to know how you manage to live between Northumberland and the the Italian mountains...you jammy sod!?

I live just down the road from you...the non Italian side! I've got a few 03 mille parts lying around. If you get stuck give me a shout.

Dave

 

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Peter319

Joined Sep 2012

65 Posts | 0+

Discussion Starter
• Dec 14, 2012

• #16

Yes, the Remus can is on (minus the baffle!!!) along with an RSVR hanger. The rear pegs are off, BMC filter fitted, ECU mod done.
Just waiting to get back in the barn (when the weather permits as I don't have any heating in there) to get her re-filled with new fluids, bodywork back on and some piccies taken :bigsmile
Red rimtape............hadn't thought about that but that and some nice Aprilia wheel transfers may look good.
It's one of those things that I should be doing quicker but as the weather is poo, it's nearly Christmas and I won't be riding her until the weather is better and the road salt is gone................I'm finding motivation hard.
I should have got a nice garage attached to the house rather than a big draughty barn!