MCN review

Foxb · May 23, 2008

So i sat down today to read mcn only to notice that the main centre page event this week was the big twin test. RC8, BMW HP2 and the "4" year old RSV FACTORY.
Yes ducati pulled out (personally i think they were a little scared of the RC8) and rather that admit defeat they fell down like a £40,000 a week footballer that comes within 10 feet of another player!
I think its rather embarrassing that the Spanking new players didn't pull away like **** from a shovel on the straights and outa the corners (remember the advantage of engine size) but they do like all machines have wee niggles that can and hopefully for their sakes will be ironed out, but more so its a show of genius creation the excellance of the RSV that such an old machine can not only keep up with BUT BEAT the latest and greatest in the same class out there.
This was a track test not a road going "ouch my wrists hurt" article so seconds a lap do count.
Thanks Aprilia for such a great bike and lets hope the V4 will do the same!:doug:doug:doug:doug:doug:doug:doug:doug:doug:doug:doug

duodave · May 23, 2008

The latest issue of Bike magazine has a comparison test between the Ducati 1098, Ducati 848, KTM RC8 and Aprilia RSV Factory. The RSV almost won the test, coming a very close second to the KTM. Not bad for a bike that is just coming to the end of it's production.
So what happens next with Aprilia? Are they going to concentrate all their sportsbike efforts on the V4, or will we see a big bore twiin to replace the RSV?

carpe diem · May 23, 2008

Cant believe they will just stop production of the RSV, i heard there contract with rotax for the engines ends later on in the year but talk was of aprilia building there own lump...?

RSV_Ecosse · May 23, 2008

Read through this m8:-

http://www.bikersoracle.com/rsv/forum/showthread.php?t=8015

V4 sounds loverly, but Aprilia shocked the world ( And Ducati :thumbup ) when they launched the Mille back in the day, with the Rotax V60 990 lump.

It's proven itself to be not only a reliable engine for a superbike, but a characteristic one as well.

Will be a sad day to see Aprilia move on from a V-Twin engine set up, but as always, things prgoress and move on......

agreat1 · May 24, 2008

as long as parts are readily available as intend to keep hold of mine for a lonnnnnnng time to come

duodave · May 25, 2008

One interesting point from the Bike magazine article - they mentioned that the left side indicators started flashing when the RSV was ridden over a bump. I had a similar problem with my RSV, but it seemed more rev related, as the indicators came on around 8000 rpm. Two or three other guys posted with similar problems. There is another post on this site regarding excessive petrol tank pressure. There is a deafening silence from Aprilia regarding these and other problems. Look at all the posts here about having to bleed the clutch and rear brake reservoirs. All I have seen from Aprilia is that there is nothing wrong with the rear brake. It would be encouraging to see Aprilia standing behind their products and acknowledging when there is a problem.

danf1234 · May 25, 2008

duodave said:
One interesting point from the Bike magazine article - they mentioned that the left side indicators started flashing when the RSV was ridden over a bump. I had a similar problem with my RSV, but it seemed more rev related, as the indicators came on around 8000 rpm. Two or three other guys posted with similar problems. There is another post on this site regarding excessive petrol tank pressure. There is a deafening silence from Aprilia regarding these and other problems. Look at all the posts here about having to bleed the clutch and rear brake reservoirs. All I have seen from Aprilia is that there is nothing wrong with the rear brake. It would be encouraging to see Aprilia standing behind their products and acknowledging when there is a problem.

Mate there is more chance of walking to the moon. Aprilia aren't exactly masters of the customer service department, or back up warranty work.

pagan · Sep 16, 2008

It will be sad to see Aprilia, stop the production of the RSV.

What then, They'll have the V4... hmmm bit deal.
Masses of power, like every other jap il4, may sound different.

I like V-twins, may not have the straight grunt of the il4's, but seriously, on the real road.
besides anyone can go fast in a straight line, easy, just twist the wrist.
I prefer the corners.
And the rsv does the corners so well.

All the new jap bike handle/stop/etc very well.
but they don't like the RSV.
There's nothing like a well designed/made V-twin.

LEGS · Sep 16, 2008

We don't know as yet what configuration the V4 will be firing order wise. Having heard the bike i would suggest it's not a screamer V4 but a double vtwin firing order similar to the old RC30 Honda. Yamaha's 2009 R1 has a big bang 180 degree firing order engine with each conrod connected at 90 degrees so it may be simialr to this but in V4 configuration

danf1234 · Sep 16, 2008

LEGS said:
We don't know as yet what configuration the V4 will be firing order wise. Having heard the bike i would suggest it's not a screamer V4 but a double vtwin firing order similar to the old RC30 Honda. Yamaha's 2009 R1 has a big bang 180 degree firing order engine with each conrod connected at 90 degrees so it may be simialr to this but in V4 configuration

Lets hope it has decent clutch and a back brake then, oh and decent electrics,

Apart from that it should be OK LOL

pagan · Sep 16, 2008

danf1234 said:
Lets hope it has decent clutch and a back brake then, oh and decent electrics,

Apart from that it should be OK LOL

I've had a Honda that dumped it's clutch.
A friends Yamaha that's dumped it's clutch
A friends Suzuki 600 that's dumped the bottom end.
I've seen electrics hydraulics's play up on jap bikes too. also BMW's
Not to forget about Jap bikes always need to change/upgrade there suspension springs

Ducati's, clutches, electrics, various motor, infact generally anything.

Had mine just over 5 years bought 12/2/2003 s/h with 10,000km on clock.
It wasn't out of the garage much last year(work reasons)
Now with 50,000km and still going.

spoonz · Sep 16, 2008

I had a long chat with Uli from MPL about Aprilia a week or so ago.

They have close dealing with Aprilia and Rotax as they run a semi official race team in Germany.
He did say they will find out more at the V4 launch on the 21st but the long and short of it is Aprilia is not making money. They need to soon.
Piaggio and Aprilia have different ethos when it comes to making bikes.

Aprilia are a Race factory, always have been and there bikes recently have reflected that. Piaggio want them to now be more mainstream and concentrate on bigger safer markets.
Hence the very safe type bikes coming our way like the current shiver and the soon to come 1200cc version.

There is categorically no Rsv after this year. aprilia and Rotax have said that 100%. There is currently no replacement in development, at least not a proper replacement. A faired shiver maybe.

The Aprilia rep commented to Uli, "If your in the market for a V4 buy 2". "The second for spares." :dunno

pagan · Sep 16, 2008

Spoonz
It's all a matter of competition, and they main thing is they need to do, is make a profit.
It'll be sad to see the end, but....
10 years is not bad for a model run.
Especially, when it was made so Aprilia could play in the WSB's

caterpillar · Sep 17, 2008

spoonz said:
The Aprilia rep commented to Uli, "If your in the market for a V4 buy 2". "The second for spares." :dunno

Hmmmm, now would that be because spares are going to be hard to come by, or because it currently isn't the most reliable beasty in the world...... :dowhat

Weren't RC30's hand built due to the need for the tolerances of the V4 layout to be so good so as to ensure the engine ran reliably?

pagan · Sep 17, 2008

Didn't the RC30's have oval pistons and 8 valves per cylinder?

caterpillar · Sep 17, 2008

pagan said:
Didn't the RC30's have oval pistons and 8 valves per cylinder?

That was the NR750 or RC40 as it was otherwise known pagan :thumbup

pagan · Sep 17, 2008

Now that's a toy. :thumbup

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