Is it worth it?

Had my old gen1 for 8 years broke down maybe twice and fixed it within ten minutes both times ... First solenoid connections loose ..2nd battery terminal had come loose ...other than that as good as gold

Mate their Italian lol so you might get the odd niggle.

Gen1 and 2 are awesome bikes so whatever floats your boat really but bikes of this age would normally of had the upgrades and mods done.

The way I would go is to look to buy off this foram or aprilia.me purely cus we like to look after each other and you can see the history of the bike.

Im sure their are a few lads from your area that frequently visit aprilia.me and I wouldnt be supprised if they offered to tag along when viewing a potential purchase.

V-Twins get in the blood mate, go for it:thumbup

Beware. Pre 2012 I think had oil pump issues and needed an upgrade. Check MCN.

Once done an absolute stonking bike.

RSV4 that is.

nik3100 said:

Hi guys

I've been tempted with an Ape for a number of years but......


I've spent my whole riding life on Jap bikes, ZX6R, Hayabusa, and currently a 2003 GSXR1000.


I adore the 04-07 RSV especially the R or Factory but it seems they are not without their faults. With Japanese being ( on the whole ) pretty bullet proof I'm left wondering if buying an RSV is worth all the little niggles that I may have to address as soon as I buy or, or try to find one that's had it all done and trust that its been done correctly.

I've ridden an RSVR and while it wasn't for long enough I knew I'd enjoy one, so different to a Jap Thou but I'm trying to justify putting my bike plus cash to get a decent RSV and possibly have to get the tools out straight away!!!

I haven't lived with one but you guys do, so apart from being biased....what would you do? Upgrade the safe bet? Go Italian? Sell the wife and child and go RSV4 and solve all problems?




Please, help me, carbon fibre, exotic build quality, V Twin and Ohlins are making me drink and Ebay

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Great question! This is my concern too. I like the 04+ model but worried about it breaking down. Cracking looking bike though!

Im not aware of any oil pump issues on rsv4s. Certainly no recalls. They can be a bit tappy at the top end when they are due a service but that is all I know. Having owned a 4 for 2 yrs all I can say is it is mental. Utterly, dribbling mental so don't buy one if you want something practical. It works on the track but at anything legal its just straining at the leash. Also expect people to wind down their windows and pass compliments especially on a white one

This is my first Italian bike, and first V-twin, after decades of Japanese in-line fours and V-fours.
My bike has only done 5000 miles, but has required a few things done to it already.
And now it looks like I'm going to have to rebuild the suspension.
I still love the look of the bike, I still love riding it.
But I do miss the 'thrash it and ignore it' mind-set you can have with a Jap bike.
I intend to buy a Jap bike again soon and use it as more of a day-to-day bike than the RSV.

Your on the money bud, around town my Millie is a real pain so used for weekend rides. I like you have only ever had Jap 4s until last April when I brought my Millie. I have sold my R1 only because I needed the money but still have my ZX10R for every day, but I love the big V twin.

I've had my 2009 RSVR since new, and generally speaking it has been a solid and reliable bike, but, as you already seem aware with these machines, not without niggles. Here's my list of troubles, in no particular order.

1. Clutch slave cylinder. The seal perishes from day one, contaminating the fluid and finally failing. Best solution is to replace it with an upgraded item, such as Oberon.

2. Fuel filler cap. The seal shrank causing it to leak fuel over my crotch whilst riding along when the tank was over half full. The seal is not an easily replaceable item (unavailable from Aprilia), and the complete assembly is very expensive. I replaced mine with a racing-style filler, which although not lockable, is better quality, half the price, and the seal is easily and cheaply replaced.

3. Rear brake. Over time, it becomes spongy and ineffective. This is probably caused by a master cylinder designed to be mounted vertically being fitted horizontally. My solution has been to fit one from a Ducati 1098, but I have only done 1,000 miles with this set-up; time will tell if it is a long-term solution.

4. Corroded power wire. This wire, from the ignition switch, had corroded causing an error with the engine management, thus disabling the bike. It took an Aprilia dealer months to solve, needing help from Aprilia themselves in the process. New wire and all seems ok again.

Apart from those above, anything else I would put down to wear and tear. Having Ohlins forks, and being six years old, they have now started weeping, so they are next on my list.

It is worth having open cans fitted, but make sure the computer has been switched to Map 2, otherwise you won't get the full power, and the engine is likely to stall when you pull up.

Riding it is great fun, and nothing like a four; it's more about torque rather than power, but don't be misled that it doesn't like to be revved; work it right and it will reward you well. Be forceful with it to make it turn, and it will hold a steady line, getting early on the gas to drive it out with the V-twin grunt. The 1000cc four will out-do you on the strainght, but you will have the advantage through the bends.

Oh ride4fun your in Hertfordshire...sometimes wish I was home in Welwyn Gdn...don't miss the weather...lol.

hsv067 said:

Oh ride4fun your in Hertfordshire...sometimes wish I was home in Welwyn Gdn...don't miss the weather...lol.

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I bet you miss the roads, though.

hsv067 said:

Oh ride4fun your in Hertfordshire...sometimes wish I was home in Welwyn Gdn...don't miss the weather...lol.

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Lucky sod my mrs would kill to live where you are....

Roads! what roads?, I live in Sydney its worse than London you have to get out of Sydney to find roads you can ride4fun and redratbike tell the mrs better the devil you know, over the past 26 years that I have lived here I see not a lot good every year going downhill fast.

The Aprilia gets you looks but it hasn't been reliable for me. I had a ZX-6R, ZX-12R, and a Busa. No issues with them. This bike has left me stranded. I would go back to a ZX-12R in a heartbeat. This RSVR is one of the coolest bikes I've ever seen but if it cant get me to work and home, its not worth much.

As I said Aprilia only for weekend blasts not every day, ZX10R for that. lol

hsv067 said:

As I said Aprilia only for weekend blasts not every day, ZX10R for that. lol

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ZX-10R is on my wish list!

Travy14 you are in Florida?, my ZX10R has power commander 5 and some nice yoshies fitted. I like the twin exhaust of my 2007 and only has about 5000 miles on it and is all black.