This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

It's very close to going onto ebay

bigbadmad

bigbadmad

Joined Jan 2008
134 Posts | 0+
Coventry, UK
I love my RSV, I really do. When I'm out on the open road it's bliss but it keeps on throwing up problems and it's really begining to piss me off.

First it had front end problems - cured with head bearing adjustment and new brake discs.
Then the battery died and I thought the sprag clutch had gone. Turns out it was just the battery. Ok so I get a new heavy duty gel battery (YTX14BS).
That battery died.
New battery on Saturday (just a standard YTX14BS until M&P replace the gel one). Running great yesterday.
It stood overnight and I forgot to put it's cover on it and it got a bit wet.
So I decide to go for a potter before tea and it won't start. I whip the side panels off and WD40 everything in sight. Still won't start. I try until the battery's flat as a pancake. Nothing.
Stick it back on the optimate till it's fully charged and then I try and start it again. Nothing. It's back on the optimate again.

AARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH

I'm very close to flogging it off. I so want to love this bike but it seems determined to break my heart. It's such a good bike on the road, it makes me grin like a nutter but if it can't carry me reliably every day then it will have to go (not to mention I have a long distance run to France in five weeks). :(
 
Last edited:
Sounds like your having a few problems there fella. Could well need new plugs. Take it to customrestoandrace in Tamworth and see Griff. He's the master on RSV's, he'll sort things for you :thumbup
 
Last edited:
I feel your pain!!! I had similar love hate / wont start issues with my RSV when I first got it in January. Replaced the battery which helped slightly but I still had no faith in it starting every time. Repalced the spark plugs and now touch wood its spot on.

Change the plugs, sort the battery and use an optimate 24/7 then hopefully you'll be on your way.

It worked for me!
 
Hmmm interesting. I assumed that the service the dealership did before I took it included new plugs. I'll whip 'em out and have a look tomorrow.

Thanks :)
 
bigbadmad said:
I love my RSV, I really do. When I'm out on the open road it's bliss but it keeps on throwing up problems and it's really begining to piss me off.

First it had front end problems - cured with head bearing adjustment and new brake discs.
Then the battery died and I thought the sprag clutch had gone. Turns out it was just the battery. Ok so I get a new heavy duty gel battery (YTX14BS).
That battery died.
New battery on Saturday (just a standard YTX14BS until M&P replace the gel one). Running great yesterday.
It stood overnight and I forgot to put it's cover on it and it got a bit wet.
So I decide to go for a potter before tea and it won't start. I whip the side panels off and WD40 everything in sight. Still won't start. I try until the battery's flat as a pancake. Nothing.
Stick it back on the optimate till it's fully charged and then I try and start it again. Nothing. It's back on the optimate again.

AARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH

I'm very close to flogging it off. I so want to love this bike but it seems determined to break my heart. It's such a good bike on the road, it makes me grin like a nutter but if it can't carry me reliably every day then it will have to go (not to mention I have a long distance run to France in five weeks). :(
Click to expand...

I would replace the plugs as you might have a dodgy plug that is arcing, but first of all the way you try to start these bikes is important, pull the fast idle right out and DO NOT TOUCH the throttle, hit the starter.

If you use any throttle it will likely flood the motor, what to do if it does:-

Close fast idle and open the throttle with one turn and hold it there, then hit the starter and keep the throttle pinned wide open, if and when it fires be ready to shut back the throttle quickly, doing this allows more air into the motor to weaken the mixture and dry it out enough to let it fire up.

Try this method before you spend on plugs.

Forgot to mention, if you continue to start on the throttle it will damage the sprag clutch and then it will be on ebay
 
mine does it too.it starts perfectly until the temperatures go below 5 C. It looks like it has not been well prepared for the cold weather.
 
I couldn't start the bike the the day after I bought it, in my case I wasn't doing it properly, after asking for advice here, I was told to use the idle in cold starts and not touch the throttle and so far so good. When I ****** up the first time though, I had to wait for a good 15 min for the bike to come to live again. If you are doing that correctly, check the plugs and pray.
 
Ive had similar problems as to bad starting but since mine is on optimate when ever its not in use ive never had any trouble at all :thumbup And as badger say's the correct starting procedure must be used or its new sprag time :jack
 
OK I finally got it to start this afternoon. I had the plugs out and they aren't new but they are sparking fine. I think it was the damp, so it's time to silicon grease the whole damn loom.

The bike lives permanently on the Optimate and I use badgers starting technique ever since I read it on another thread.
 
I'd still be tempted to change the plugs for the cost involved (set of four for about 20 - 30 quid) especially with a trip abroad looming. My old set were sparking as well but since I put fresh one's in it seems a lot more positive from hot or cold and hasn't failed to start once since.
 
bigbadmad said:
OK I finally got it to start this afternoon. I had the plugs out and they aren't new but they are sparking fine. I think it was the damp, so it's time to silicon grease the whole damn loom.

The bike lives permanently on the Optimate and I use badgers starting technique ever since I read it on another thread.
Click to expand...

You could still have a bad plug even though it is sparking, check the caps are very tight, if it was me going abroad i would spend the money on new plugs and keep those as spares on your trip.

Plugs can look fine but still be problematic causing arcing
 
Oh I am going to buy new plugs, the only reason I haven't is I went to my local bike accesory place today and they wanted £10 a plug and they weren't even iridium. It seemed too steep so I'll try elsewhere.
 
Sorry fella im new round but but i hope you punched the robbin b'stard in the face for trying to con you like that with the price of them plugs!!!
£10 no way!! i was so insesned by this i had to register and post straight away, (i was told about the forum a couple of days ago and visited!)
£6.50 each no more if you cant source any gimme a call dude im only in tamworth so not far away and got em in stock!

the fresh set of plugs would be mandatory for me with your issues mate, plugs really get a bashing in modern sportsbike engines!!

hope all goes well for you dude!
Cheers
Fusebox

(griff)
 
Hi Fusebox and welcome to the forum :D

I was so taken aback that I think I just turned a funny colour and left! lol
I've just ordered a set of plugs off aprilia.me for half what the robbing gits would have charged me but thanks for the offer. It was MPS in Coventry if you're curious, they're under new management and their prices have risen noticeably since the take over. I have a little Bandit 4 that is my winter hack and it suffers from carb icing I went into MPS and asked if they had any FST Pro - they did and I bought some, the next time I was in I noticed they'd added £5 to the price of a bottle. Cheeky gits.

Are you the guy who runs customrestoandrace?

Cheers
Mad :D
 
cost of plugs...!!!

Hi Mad!
to be honest mate i just that shocked at the price of the plugs i nearly threw up myself for ya!!
i know everyones gotta make a livin but insulting people aint no livin is it!

Thanks for the welcome, i hope to catch up soon!

Cheers
fusebox
(Griff)

p.s Yes mate i am !:thumbup
 
×

Similar threads

N
Diag code 11 & 12 gen 1 Mille
Replies
2
Views
420
Chumneywarner
C
K
Help needed
Replies
1
Views
44
Razor
Razor
B
Aprilia tuono 125 won’t start
Replies
0
Views
390
BikeChickMomo
B
J
V4 1000 Tuono not idling
Replies
5
Views
767
JustinV4
J
sd1cko81
Rebound Damping
Replies
2
Views
759
sd1cko81
sd1cko81

New Posts