Just bought an RSV Mille R and need help

Hi All

New member here.
Just traded my 2003 Buell firebolt for a 2004 RSV R Mille
Although its 2004 its the earlier version with the 2 into 1 exhauast and huge end can. However it does have oz wheels, ohlins forks, rear shock and stearing damper.
The bike looks really good but im a bit worried about noises and hoping someone can put my mind at rest.

I thought the Buell was a noisy engine but the Aprillia sounds like its about to detonate.

The rattles and knocks are overwhelming
When I went to see the bike today I commented on the noises and the dealers mechanic sai it was normal for the Mille.
I started riding it home then turned round and went back again thinking something must be wrong but he checked it and said it was normal

Anyway I brought it home about 70 miles and was blown away by the handling and power delivery. Its a lot better than the Buell in all departments.

The rattles and knoks are really bugging me tho as it sounds like there are some nuts and bolts bouncing on top of the pistons

Is this really normal?

I'm sure i'll have another 1001 questions but want to get this out the way first

Cheers

Stu (Guisborough UK)

mines a bit noisy, but think its normal, the rotax engine is known to be noisy mechanically!

Rattles & knocks....dunno what you mean...the engine is a V-Twin and is RAW, is it a sound or does it really FEEL as though it's knocking. I've had mine a year and it's brutal but absolutely sublime...if the mechanic says don't worry.....DON'T WORRY! Welcome to Aprilia World..It's fantastic!

Hi

Thanks

It just sounds very very tappety if that makes sense.
I'm hearing the tappety sound as much as the exhaust note.

By the way I bought the bike from an independent not an aprilia dealer.

I guess the best thing to do is to take it to a bona fida aprilia dealer and let there mechanics give me a second opinion

The bikes only done 8k

Cheers

These engines are clattery but I believe the clue to your issue is your large end can! It sounds like the original Aprilia dustbin which muffles the exhaust note so much all you hear is the engine. Get a decent end can and you won't hear the engine. I did! I almost didn't buy my bike cos the first one I rode had that exhaust. I too was told the noisy engine is normal - it is!

to be on the safe side, when ever i buy a bike, the first thing i do is change the oil and filter, that way you can look at the oil as well.
when starting froom cold, check for blue smoke coming out of the can, as this often indicates piston leakage

but yes they are noisy and a bit rattly especially when ploddig, wind her up past 5000 rpm and it all smoothens out, try to ride keeping the revs up as it makes it smoother

yaeh they all souynd like that mate. As has been said..get a nice loud can!
Ck

stuuk said:

Hi

Thanks

It just sounds very very tappety if that makes sense.
I'm hearing the tappety sound as much as the exhaust note.

By the way I bought the bike from an independent not an aprilia dealer.

I guess the best thing to do is to take it to a bona fida aprilia dealer and let there mechanics give me a second opinion

The bikes only done 8k

Cheers

Click to expand...

If your at all unsure then take it in and get a aprilia mechanic to check it just to put your mind at rest, not good getting a loud exhaust to cover what may be a potential problem :thumbup

And welcome to the zone...

As mentioned by the fellas above, take it to an approved Aprilia dealer for them to check out. The engine's are a tad noisey but not to the extent that you's think there is a problem. What mileage has your bike covered? Has it been serviced recently? Also check the oil level, the only way to do it is to ride the bike for at least 20 minutes to get everything up to temperature, stop somewhere safe and flat and turn off the engine. Immediatley check the oil in the sight tube. It should be no more than 2/3 rds up the tube.

There are 3 things that you must do to an Aprilia RSV Mille.

One is to ditch the standard end can, get a decent quality replacement such as an Akrapovic or Arrow titanium can. You will not believe the weight of the standard one. You'll also love the exhaust note when you're riding.

Two is to lower the gearing, RSV's way over geared as standard, standard for your model is 17/42, either go 16/42 or 15/42 or if you need a new chain go 16/44 with a 110 link DID x ring proffessional gold.

Three is to buy an optimate battery conditioner. You MUST keep the bike hooked up when not in use. Most problems associated with RSV Mille stem from low or weak batteries. Simple proccedure of using the adapter supplied with the optimate, remembering to switch the optimate off first before reconnecting to the bike then switching it back on

Always good advice there Sprocker. :thumbup Well mate, my shims/topend always sounds like it has 40 thou gaps (but they ain't)...when just trundling about town. They are noiser than most, but may pay to dble chk yer shim gaps.
Mine tends to quieten alot after a fang about some...mind you i have a race pipe on...so maybe i just can't hear em no more flmao :biggrin

Welcome to the RSVzone, and the Aprilia light mate! :thumbup

Hi Guys

Bit of an update

Managed to get out on bike today and found a 99 RSV mille at the whistlestop in whitby

When the guy started his up I would say mine is no worse as far as the general mechanical noises are concerned at tickover and free revving and he had an aftermaket can on.

The thing that still concerns me is when im riding the bike I seeem to hear a noise that is different to the general valve gear noise. Almost like a slap or mild clang in sync with the cylinders firing. Almost like pinking but more metallic.
It isnt a knock its something I hear rather than feel.

I'm going to take it to Petite and France (nearest Aprilia dealer) on Monday to get their opinion.

Another quicky
When riding the bike quite hard it starts to run out of steam ataround 8.5k it still pulls but it feels like its on the back of the torque curve

Is this about right?
I think the absolute rev limit is 10.5k but I guess there is an ideal rev band that you guys like to keep in?

Cheers

Stu

drop some oil - what is it like (black weak) get some new oil in along with filter and check the manual. on my 04 there's a hidden plug to undo too otherwise you dont drop all the oil, its magnetic too so collects all fragments.....
not sure if yours does the same.....
i remember when i switched fro in line 4's i thought "god its noisy and vibraty" now i'm used to her......
how does she change gear? clunky or smooth?????

how does she start?? first time???

check the service manual, have valve clearances been done? has the timing chain been done?

if in doubt - check it out!!!!!

read this thread - pay attention to the noisy engine bit
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/26/in-the-autoblog-garage-aprilia-rsv-1000-r/

throttle bodies out of sink?
running on one cylinder

Agree with all the comments you've had..Why don't you book a test ride at an Aprilia dealer on a new one to compare the engine? Not a lot of difference mechanically.

Mine not that noisy but more raw than a Jap..Best of luck

they are noisy mate! when your head is over the tank YOU ALWAYS THINK VALVE CLEARANCES but hey nature of the beast normal sound for these . i have days when i think must check my valves sounds like a tractor today:lol

worth checking spark plugs are not loose, mine was making loud clicking noise 1 plug was over half way out !

Hi Guys

Took the bike to my friendly Aprilia dealer this morning (Petite and France)
Billy has worked on Aprilia's for years, he took the time to give my bike a checkover and took it for a short test ride.
He reckons there is nothing wrong with it and all the noises I hear are normal for the Mille.

Only slight issue is the Ohlins forks are leaving a smear of oil around the seals.
He said this was a common problem with the ohlins and they normally change them for yam seals, not desperate biut will probably need doing shortly.
He qouted me less than £100 to change the seals all in which I thought was quite reasonable.

Just have to ignore the noises and now and enjoy the bike.

PS just won a Carbon Can company aftermarket can and link pipe on ebay
Are they any good?

Cheers

As long as the packing is ok inside the can then it should be fine. Once the packing starts to deteriorate then the cans will actually cause the engine to loose power. Normally most cheaper cans will be good for say 8 to 10,000 miles, the better ones such as the Akrapovic and Arrow cans will last much longer before they need a repack. Repacking them is pretty straight forward to do with a few simple tools

Great news mate that yer Aprilia mechanic says it for the norm on topend noise lvls Best not to leave the forkseals too long..sounds like a good price for the job done. :eatcorn
Yes, the ol Millez r noisy, but have so0 many other attributes that you will soon learn to love about the bike. Not too sure about that type of exhaust can u speak of mate...someone else i am sure will have heard of it and advise. Congrats..now enjoy your sweet RSV :thumbup