just a note to say bye and thanks so much to everyone on this forum. this is by a long way the friendliest most helpful forum i have ever been part of. i think it is something to do with the nature of the aprilias that makes the owners unite and help out, something majorly lacking on the majority of the jap bike forums. The sale wasnt through choice, baby due in 5 weeks meant i needed to get the missus a car a little more road worthy, so i swapped it for a '98 gsxr 750 srad plus £800. gotta say i am pleased with the gsxr, it is fun and i the top end is nice, but i really miss that bottom end grunt so much and the character of my mille. i plan on getting another mille one day so this isnt goodbye, its until next time! Cheers all, Gary.