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Thinking of buying - advice please

C

CelticDawg

Joined Jan 2009
3 Posts | 0+
Hi guys
I've just joined as i'm thinking of buying a 2003 Mille. I'm getting a good deal on my 2001 bandit 600 against it and the RSV has the "restriction" papers i need but not the washers :)
Now, i've been on Apriliaforum recently and all i can see is problems:
1) a multitude of possible electrical problems (rain and moisture epecially)
2) replacing the sprag clutch (which in the US is costing almost 1000$ on parts alone), and
3) you can't even power wash the flippin' bikes in case they don't start.
I plan on taking it for a test drive tomorrow (never ridden an Ape or a twin for that matter). I was all around Dublin today looking in bikeshops but everything is sooo expensive. It would probably take ages to shift my bandit and i'd have to put new tyres on it to shift it. Also, the shop is giving me E2950 for it against the E4750 Mille (5300 miles). That's why it's such a good deal. The Ape would only be standing me E1800.

What i want to know is the usual prices on some of the more serious fixes, clutch in particular. I'm apartment living at the moment so i don't have a garage, toolbox or the techie know how anyway to do most of the fixes myself.
The bikes speedo isn't working at the moment, though the rest of the clock functions are. The shop will fix this for the sale butu won't give any warranty on the bike as it's an italian.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
the only other bike i'd really consider would be a TL1000R if i can find one. Any advice on those?
Thanks
Brian
 
Welcome Brian mate,

If you enjoy riding the bike quickly/corners etc...., RSV everytime over the TL. Had both and the Mille is way better handling (only my opinion mind!). Has the bike got service history? With that low mileage and well serviced you shouldn't be looking at any problems. There are a few basic "must do's" when you take over it.....1) ALWAYS keep it on charge/optimate (i realise you are in an apartment but definately find away to wangle this!) with the battery kept up to scratch you shouldn't have many problem with the sprag. I'm no mechanic myself and so can't tell you much in the "replacing clutch" department, sorry! As for electrical problem, they seem far more common on the other red Italian bikes than these! I've had mine for 3.5 years and (touch wood!) never had an electrical glitch! Washing the bike is just the same as any other (never use pressure washers on any bikes as they can cause grief).

One thing i will mention is to make sure the speedo is 100% working as replacement clocks aren't cheap!! Try get it warranted if possible as they are fixing it.

I'd say at the price you're paying for it (with the trade in) it's a definate goer....they are amazing machines!

Good luck with it............:thumbup
 
go for it mate, yeah they have a few problems nothing too bad. loads of people to help you if it does go wrong. and its an amazing bike. I wouldnt swop mine for the world. i just cant stop spending on it
 
How often for a battery charger. I might be able to hook her up while at work. What about every 2 or 3 days or does it need every day charge?
Also, i would be using her as a daily commuter, 60-70 km round-trip, most on motorway.
Will she handle that?
Brian
 
Welcome to the forum, you have to buy the RSV now. LOL

Sounds like a no brainer, that's a good deal.

Don't worry about the fixing bits until they actually happen (If ever), if we didn't do things because of what may happen we'd all still be living in caves shitting ourselves at the big dinosaurs outside.
 
What you have to bear in mind is that this is an RSV specific forum and you will see a lot of people asking for help for problems, people do not post to say their bike is running fine which the vast majority are, it is natural for a forum to have threads on problems.

These bikes are good, they have a few foibles which are easily sorted , unless of course you sprag goes awol, this is not the norm it is only a few unlucky ones, it stems from bad starting habits, never had one go on me in nearly 60k miles on my Mille's.

A good battery is a must to avoid bad starting issues, power washing things electrical are bad on any bike, just don't hit the electrics with the power washer.

There are loads of threads and help on here if you do have any issues, you won't be disapointed:thumbup
 
amb67 said:
Welcome to the forum, you have to buy the RSV now. LOL

Sounds like a no brainer, that's a good deal.

Don't worry about the fixing bits until they actually happen (If ever), if we didn't do things because of what may happen we'd all still be living in caves shitting ourselves at the big dinosaurs outside.
Click to expand...
"Don't worry about the fixing bits until they actually happen (If ever), if we didn't do things because of what may happen we'd all still be living in caves shitting ourselves at the big dinosaurs outside."

Very good!) i like it.
I think i'm asking the wrong people for un-biased advice as all Ape owners i've come across are totally smitten with their steeds.
I think it's a case of following the heart over the brain, ya?
 
I think i'm asking the wrong people for un-biased advice as all Ape owners i've come across are totally smitten with their steeds.

You said it mate:thumbup Just answered your own Q
 
The Mille is a cracking bike and although there are some common problems Badger puts it in a nutshell that a lot of issues are down to poor starting practices...a good friend of mine has had his Mille for 5 yrs now & it has NEVER let him down and he does give it grief every time he rides it...I can't say the same as my first RSVR had serious sprag clutch problems but they were sorted (at a price!) and I've only had my Mille for 3 months and no issues so far!...These bikes are VERY addictive & once you're under their spell...anything that doesn't come from the land of the green/white/red seems ludicrous!
 
have a look in the current Fast Bike mag, they have an article on the rsv that might help you decide ( they don't rate the TL by the way:devious )
 
I can only reiterate what the guys have said, like Badger i've covered many many miles on RSV Mile's over the years and my only problem so far was a blown headlamp bulb and a weeping fork seal. The biggest issue is Battery, so Optimate 4 whenever possible and having read a thread the other day it appears one of these may be the way to go on batteries, YTZ14S-BS

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Top-quality-V...14&_trkparms=72:1301|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

Again as the guys have said, never ever jet wash a bike, a bucket of hot soapy water, a sponge, some PH neutral bike cleaner and a shammy is the only way.

Check the bike over thoroughly, and check it starts first time after a few seconds each time with no mechanical clanking sound ( sprag clutch )

Good luck
 
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They're are great bikes. I had japanese before and would never go back. I commute mine everyday and i've only had battery problems if i leave it and don't use it fora few days. in which case i pop it on charge fora couple of hours. I've not had any electrical problems despite riding it all winter and just avoid the clocks/electrics when I'm giving it a clean.

it all sounds like hassle, 'don't get it wet', 'dont let the battery go flat' etc but in practice it's no bother and they're tiny issues compared to the experience you will have owning the bike.

go for it. yes, we've all got them so you could assume we're biased but we've got them and keep them because they are great.

The TL is no comparison.
 
I've owned 2 TL's and i cant praise them enough... buy a TLS though, get it set up and dont look back. RSV will out-grace it on track or "Perfect roads" but im totally convinced that i could hussle my old TL just as fast as my RSVR, and the TL was more exciting to ride, you havent lived till you've powered a TLS out of a tight corner front wheel crossed up and in the air!!!
 
I have had a lot of issues with my mille but to be honest once you get past the issue of not washing the bike, praying to the gods that it will start and you get out on the road, so far nothing I have ridden comes close to the joys of riding my mille.

Iv'e had a GSXR750, TL1000R, CBR900RRX and a ZX9R. each bike had its moment but none of them have put such a big smile on my face as the mille has. Plus I have never so many people comment on my bike as the other.

Do one thing in your life and buy a mille, you will not reget it :)
 
Hi Celtic,

All I can do is paraphrase my earlier post comments

"For the 1st 3-4 weeks of ownership I did nearly a 1000 miles far more than I ever did on the R1 for an equivelant period of time, WHY well thats easy because it was such a joy to ride !!

The handling is superior to any other bike i've ridden (I am a fat ******* 17+ stone on a good day) the torque is thunderous when coming out of corners or just rolling on the throttle (I destroyed a back tyre just playing with the power on corner exits).

when it works it works bloody well and its one of a few bikes where the sum of the parts does indeed equal the whole."
 
they are robust matey, I've put 56.5k miles on mine(2003) with NO probs and I thrash it in all weathers every day..which here in the uk translates as '******' 90% of the time.
ck

PS-as fer wet weather it was happy for an 1800 mile pissy wet jaunt across Europe last year.
 
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The battery problem isnt that much of a problem that you may think reading all this posts :)

Its true that it always has to be in a good state, but I newer charge mine during the season and I have no problems, if you use your bike once every while or every day. It will only discharge itself if the bike will stand for more than 10-14 days. And durring off season you put the batery out, just like on every other bike and thats about all you have to do. And efcorse when you start the bike cold, cold-start lever to the max :)

And like everyone else here said, it has some common problems, but are easy to solve if you come across it, with the help of this forum :)

You will only have problems if you get one in a realy bad shape or one that was made on a friday afternoon and someone at aprilia had a birthday and they were all drunk as hell when they assembled your bike :D
 
whitetrash said:
I've owned 2 TL's and i cant praise them enough... buy a TLS though, get it set up and dont look back. RSV will out-grace it on track or "Perfect roads" but im totally convinced that i could hussle my old TL just as fast as my RSVR, and the TL was more exciting to ride, you havent lived till you've powered a TLS out of a tight corner front wheel crossed up and in the air!!!
Click to expand...


The Astra owner's Forum is THAT WAY:pisser2:bwtillerTL
 

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