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New owner and quick question.....

J

jasa98

Joined Jan 2011
13 Posts | 0+
Hi,

Proud to say I should be the new owner of an 06 RSVR Factory with 7k miles on the clock on Saturday. First Italian bike after 3 Hondas (1 125 and 2 CBR600Fs). Have been riding for 4 years and fancied a go at a V-Twin (The only bikes I ever sat next to at the lights that put a massive smile on my face and I wasn't even riding it). Did have my heart set on a SP2 (mainly for the sound and the reliability) but after reading several posts it's just more of an uncomfortable and unwieldy beast if you're going to use it all year round for city/street riding as well as fun in the evenings and at weekends.

So, my first venture into the world of Italian reliability. I did my research before buying so I'm aware of the typical problems. I think (and I'll check) that my one only has one brown connector near the rectifier. Will look at doing the mod, even if it's in good condition, as where my bike is parked I can't keep it on an optimate or anything like that, so I need it to get a good charge when riding. Also thinking about upgrading the battery straight away too. Any other changes I should make to ensure a healthy battery and a decent charging circuit?

Ok and here's the question. I have honda heated grips on the CBR. Will be getting rid of it as salvage and I'm wondering whether I can mod them so they and the wiring harness can be fitted to the RSV as I found the grips to be very good and very well made. I've done a search but couldn't find much. I'd really like to know how easy it is and whether it is worth the hassle? I'm not very tech/mechanically gifted. I fitted the grips myself to the honda but it was fairly straightforward and didn't require cutting wires.

Thanks for your time and help and I'll post pics when I have them. I got what one magazine called "The tacky gold and black one"

Cheers
 
Hi mate, can't help with the grip's, but welcome to the Zone :thumbup. Congrats on the Factory purchase, they're great bikes and the more you ride it the faster and better it'll feel. Enjoy.
 
Great choice mate ....
Do the brown wire mod.
Also given the starter motor is so so close to the exhaust, consider a heat wrap for the starter ( Easy job )
"Now I start a blue' ...... Rotax introduced a design fault with the rear cylinder. Consider manual over
hydraulic cam chain tensioners ! ( That'll start a blue ) ( But it'll only cost another 40 bucks )
You just married a cranky Italian/Austrian women and you my friend will never look back !

Enjoy
 
I'm sure it is worth saving but not for me. Engine is fine and still starts. Has done 25,000 miles. Most damage is cosmetic, the rest is axle front brake assembly and levers. things is, I can't afford to keep more than 1 bike (getting murdered on the insurance for the rsv as it is) and I don't have the time or skills to restore the honda, so going to salvage or private individual who is willing to put in the time.
 
Based on the outskirts of London in Barking. Bike is a Black 03 CBR600F. Bike is parked at work and I don't have my camera with me so I'll take some pics tomorrow and upload them. Is there anything in particular you want me to take photos of? Most of the damage is cracked and scuffed fairings. Rear brake and gear lever bent, front brake lever and clutch lever bent. All lights still working. Started it up today and started find even though I haven't touched it for about 8 weeks. Still rides as I rode it after the accident to get to work and then the garage but front disk is rubbing as I think it is bent. I have a full parts requirement assessment from Honda to give you an idea what they think would need doing. Obviously if you were going to use it for the track you're not going to bother with some of the stuff on there. Only mods are heated grips, which I'm think of removing (I still have the originals) and a fabbri double bubble (which if it was going to salvage, I would remove and replace with the original). If I remember rightly, tyres still have quite a bit of tread left on them (Dunlop Roadsmarts).
 
what sort of money would you be looking at? not sure at the moment if i'd be able to go for it myself but sure someone would
 
Insurance had salvage down as £650 so they paid out difference between retail and salvage, so I guess I'm looking for anything in excess of £650. I'll post it around a couple of forums and ring around a couple of bike breakers.
 
Quick Update:

Love the bike. Only on standard pipes but really like the sound of the v-twin. Always found myself wanting to change up early on the I-4 as the engine sounds like it's going to explode the higher up the rev range you are. Non of that on the V-twin. Bike handles great although I haven't really taken it on any decent roads. Ride home from purchasing was 215 miles. To anyone looking at one of these and worrying about comfort, I'm about 6ft and 86kg. I found the pegs are high compared to my CBR and you do sit quite high above the tank but you do get used to it, the seat is not that uncomfortable (I'm not considering swapping it out). It's fine for commuting in Central London, not too heavy, quite agile and good fun. 30mph is an awkward speed for it, because it seems to be just high enough up the rev range for 1st gear that you experience quite a lot of engine breaking when you back off, but just a bit too low for second gear. Just takes a bit of getting used to and I guess if you really dislike it, you can always change the sprocket combo.

Couple more questions:

1) Do the mirrors fold in? I gave it a bit of a push but it was very stiff and I was worried about breaking it. I won't need to do it all that much when I'm parking but when I'm filtering, sometimes it's useful to pull a mirror in to get through.
2) I read through the aprilia manual (I know, geeky). Some interesting stuff in there. It says you should engage the engine cut out switch when you switch the bike off as leaving it on may cause battery drainage. Then later on, it warns against using it as if the bike is hot, engaging the switch will stop the fans from working after you have switched off the ignition. What do others do?
 
heated grips on a superbike?! the world's end is coming...

if they folding only by twisting but the indicator light says it wont be possible. but let it confirm by an owner. i have the older one
i always use the key. the switch is to be used as an emergency switch in my opinion. if above 95 degrees celzius i put th ekey back to I position to allow the vents flow.
 
I know, I know. Probably doesn't get as cold here as where you are. I do use it all year round and went for a couple of years without heated grips, but I think as the gloves got older and traffic worse (Maybe?) all that time on the clutch and brakes in cold temperatures ends up with some pretty numb fingers and I just prefer to have full feeling in them, just in case I need them in an emergency.
 
mr_ace5288 said:
same as my one, excellent - very hard to find! where did you source it from?
Click to expand...

So far I've got all but one of my bikes from Fleabay. I've been quite lucky that most of the owners have been good, honest people and have looked after the bike. Does often mean though that I end up travelling for a good example at a decent price. I live very close to London and so far have been to Bury, Dover and Chester for my bikes. Gives me a decent ride home though to get used to it and try it out for comfort!!
 
I run heated grips on my Mille. But then again I do ride all year roundand prefer not to ride in Boxing Gloves!. Also I like the extra girth they give....oooooooooerrr missus.
 
Sabre said:
I run heated grips on my Mille. But then again I do ride all year roundand prefer not to ride in Boxing Gloves!. Also I like the extra girth they give....oooooooooerrr missus.
Click to expand...

What brand are you running, are they any good and have you had any battery issues when using them?
 
jasa98 said:
Hi,

Proud to say I should be the new owner of an 06 RSVR Factory with 7k miles on the clock on Saturday. First Italian bike after 3 Hondas (1 125 and 2 CBR600Fs). Have been riding for 4 years and fancied a go at a V-Twin (The only bikes I ever sat next to at the lights that put a massive smile on my face and I wasn't even riding it). Did have my heart set on a SP2 (mainly for the sound and the reliability) but after reading several posts it's just more of an uncomfortable and unwieldy beast if you're going to use it all year round for city/street riding as well as fun in the evenings and at weekends.

So, my first venture into the world of Italian reliability. I did my research before buying so I'm aware of the typical problems. I think (and I'll check) that my one only has one brown connector near the rectifier. Will look at doing the mod, even if it's in good condition, as where my bike is parked I can't keep it on an optimate or anything like that, so I need it to get a good charge when riding. Also thinking about upgrading the battery straight away too. Any other changes I should make to ensure a healthy battery and a decent charging circuit?

Ok and here's the question. I have honda heated grips on the CBR. Will be getting rid of it as salvage and I'm wondering whether I can mod them so they and the wiring harness can be fitted to the RSV as I found the grips to be very good and very well made. I've done a search but couldn't find much. I'd really like to know how easy it is and whether it is worth the hassle? I'm not very tech/mechanically gifted. I fitted the grips myself to the honda but it was fairly straightforward and didn't require cutting wires.

Thanks for your time and help and I'll post pics when I have them. I got what one magazine called "The tacky gold and black one"

Cheers
Click to expand...

I had a RC51/SP2 and it was an uncomfortable beast. I took an RSV for an hour long rip on a demo today and no comfort issues so I am buying one on Saturday. It is a Black one with blue wheels. 2007 straight out of the crate for $9000 CAD including all dealer fees. Seems like an amazing deal. I also had a 2007 Tuono I could have bought and I was considering that because I had the comfort issues on my RC and thought the RSV would be the same. The bike handles like nothing else I have ridden. My RC had Ohlins internals in the front fork and an Ohlins shock and it didn't feel anywhere near as good as the RSV.
 
Superclean09 said:
I had a RC51/SP2 and it was an uncomfortable beast. I took an RSV for an hour long rip on a demo today and no comfort issues so I am buying one on Saturday. It is a Black one with blue wheels. 2007 straight out of the crate for $9000 CAD including all dealer fees. Seems like an amazing deal. I also had a 2007 Tuono I could have bought and I was considering that because I had the comfort issues on my RC and thought the RSV would be the same. The bike handles like nothing else I have ridden. My RC had Ohlins internals in the front fork and an Ohlins shock and it didn't feel anywhere near as good as the RSV.
Click to expand...

thanks for letting me know. Feels good to know I made the right choice.

Bit more of an update:

Think I've got my first signs of a fork seal leak on the right hand side, so I guess I'll have to get that sorted. Other than that MAN can this thing drink!!!!!!! On the way home from buying it (mostly motorway miles) I think I got 100 - 110 miles before the light came on. Yesterday after 3 days of London commuting, it came on at 82 miles. All in all it's probably only an extra £250 a year in petrol for commuting so still worth it. Was just a bit surprised. Is changing the sprocket as per redrat's suggestion going to help with this or make it worse?
 
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