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RSV 03 rear light cluster question

L

larann

Joined Aug 2008
7 Posts | 0+
Lockerbie Scotland
Hiya folks, just baught a rsv 2003 model. Yummy. Just a quick question though to pick your brains!!

See the rear cowl, how comes there are some that are scalped to go around the rear lights and then some (like mine) that are straight at the back? I tried searching to see if this is a difference in years but had no luck. Don't know if its to do with the colour (silvers mine) or anything like that.

Thanks for any advice you guys can give. And hope it made sense^^

Oh yeah forgot to add that the ones like mine seem to have mesh just behind the seat at the sides and the other type don't.
 
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Welcome on aboard larann :thumbup

Any pics to go along with the description? Do you mean vented when you say scalped? :dunno
 
I think he is on about the rear edge of the solo seat cowl, some are straight and some are like an 'S' shape.

Reason why?

Haven't a clue, but someone here will I'm sure.
 
Hiya, cheers for the reply, i've stole a pic from tinternet and circled the vents. Mines just like this.
rsv.jpg


Mines an o3 plate, but then I also see 03 plates with rears like this one:
rsv2.jpg


Cheers.
 
Guessing you mean sculptured? :dunno

1fb3_12.jpg


701e_1.jpg


The top picture is advertised as being 2001-02, the bottom picture as 2003. So i'm guessing that it was a design difference for the final model......maybe :dowhat
 
amb67 said:
I think he is on about the rear edge of the solo seat cowl, some are straight and some are like an 'S' shape.

Reason why?

Haven't a clue, but someone here will I'm sure.
Click to expand...

Yeah the rear edge, thats the bit!!
 
caterpillar said:
Guessing you mean sculptured? :dunno

1fb3_12.jpg


701e_1.jpg


The top picture is advertised as being 2001-02, the bottom picture as 2003. So i'm guessing that it was a design difference for the final model......maybe :dowhat
Click to expand...

I kind of though it would be by age aswell, though I'm sure I've seen both types for 03 plates. Might just be me
 
Caterpillar knows way too much!!!!! :eatcorn

I personally prefer the sculpted rear cowls without the vented rear fairing. But then again many people have said I'm strange and have no taste. :devious
 
The only trouble you have with saying 03 plates is that the 03 on the plate only stands for when the bike was registered as opposed to model production year.

You then have to throw into the mix that if a bike had been down the road there is every chance that the tail piece took a battering and has been changed for an earlier/later model....delete as applicable :)
 
amb67 said:
Caterpillar knows way too much!!!!! :eatcorn
Click to expand...

:laugh you wait until LEGS gets here and tells us the real reason :devious

Sideline bet......final year of production was a constant piss up at the Aprilia factory and they grabbed whatever they could from the parts bin.....think they call it employee initiative :nana bet you didn't know they employ a specialist team of blind electricians.......:devious
 
caterpillar said:
The only trouble you have with saying 03 plates is that the 03 on the plate only stands for when the bike was registered as opposed to model production year.

You then have to throw into the mix that if a bike had been down the road there is every chance that the tail piece took a battering and has been changed for an earlier/later model....delete as applicable :)
Click to expand...

true, I guess I should stop trying to make things linear in my head and be happy that I got rid of the zx6r (2000) for more money than the rsv (2003) cost me:devious
 
larann said:
true, I guess I should stop trying to make things linear in my head and be happy that I got rid of the zx6r (2000) for more money than the rsv (2003) cost me:devious
Click to expand...

Bargain squire! Happy riding :biggrin

Get some pics up, and keep it sunny side up out there :thumbup
 
Sounds like you can deal with the best of us, :thumbup I ditched a ZX6R for my RSV. :biggrin Was sorry to see mine go as I had restored it from a wreck over a 7 year period. :roll (Four kids and a wife who's an accountant makes things pretty difficult) :tongue

Italian engineers are a bit like the British engineers, when they are not on a 3 hour lunch break they are building machines from whatever crap they can lay their hands on.

I know, I was an engineer for many years!!!! :biggrin
 
03 model had redesigned arse end and different gearbox to rest of mille range
 
Yep, Cheesy's spot on. 2003 models had revised rear end bodywork, seat cowls included. You cannot interchange between the two i.e fit a 2003 seat cowl to 2002 bodywork and vise versa.
 
^^^ they are right, I bought a new tail for mine after it was damaged in an accident. Only 03 mille and early shape tuono tail pannels fit the bike. They are different shapes to the older bike. Lights and everything are not interchangable.

I found out to my expense
 
Hmmm, LEGS, I understand that each cowl won't interchange between the redesigns much the same as seat cowls from pre 00.5 not fitting later bikes and vice versa, but re the actual tailpiece bodywork, can you not change to a later model complete set up, or is the subframe different as well in that case? :dunno
 
i've been wondering the same about compatibility of the 06 rear end changes being able to fit an 04-05 bike, though considering its all mounted to the subframe etc i would imagine the subframes are different, could be wrong tho!
 
Caterpillar, as far as i'm aware, yes you can put a 2003 model rear end on a 2002 model bike and vice versa as the subframes are the same but you can't interchange parts between the 2 model years

I think Big Un has on 02 Mille with an 03 back end on, he may be able to tell more
 
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Thanks for the info LEGS, you are a star sir :thumbup

Curiosity always gets the better of me, hence question after question :laugh
 

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