Aprilia RSV1000R & Factory (2004-current)

I bought my 2005 Aprilia 6 months old and with 1000 miles on the clock. As new! and as soon as I set eyes on the RSV, I knew that I would buy it and struggled to keep my cool long enough to do a deal. As the starter was thumbed, my senses exploded. Looking, Listening,.... Looking,.... Dribbling! How can you haggle when the owner sees you are frothing at the mouth? This bike is Beautiful,....... Perfect! I didn't know why he was selling and I never find out. It was going to be mine and I didn't care. Stupid, Stupid, FOOL! Rash decisions like that can bite you! Did an MCN check after the event. (really would recommend doing one before, though) Ha Ha, this time though,... No Bites! It goes, stops, handles sublimely. It is Awesome! I love this bike and so does everyone else. I know you covet my Ox, but it's mine! The best bike I've owned. By Miles.

Bought my silver 06 Factory 2 years ago, and hve clocked 16000 miles up..Like other owners who'd moved from Jap fours, they take a bit of getting used to, but oncethe cans are changed and the fueling set up they're superb..You need to ride these bikes as unlike Jap bikes they're not bland machines that do everything for you. Niggles? Back brake tha doesn't..Aprilia deny there'e a fault but every foum has a magic fix for the problem..The speedo sensor is placed underneath the rear caliper and as such gets all the water thrown at it, and in Aprilias wisdom they're not waterproof..Plop some silicone around the joint and problem solved otherwise its £67 fo a new one.. Spares? Got a speedo semnsor over counter..Ditto wing mirror after droping it in the garage, the build quality is on a par with Honda, but like any modern motorcycle they need looking after..Mine still looks superb despite the mileage..

I have the 2007 model non factory and love it now, but upon first picking it up from the dealer (brand new) I almost took it back to ask for my Gixer 750 K4 back. As it was like riding on a JCB, I had previously had two milles (older model) so knew what to expect with a v-twin. But this model felt rubbish to start with at low speeds just wanted to surge and was a nightmare keeping low speeds. So got advice off the forums and changed the front and rear sprockets and added some end cans and boy did it make a difference. It is now so planted and stomps like hell, ok top is a bit down now but the low and mid are awesome. Its also very comfortable even though I am 6.3ft, although the mirrors are useless and had to add some spacers to them to make them useable ish. Its also slightly let down on the paint quality on the tank as its water based and showed signs of wear after just a couple of hundered miles. But that said it is easily the best bike I have ever owned and you get a smile every ride and is great fun on the twisties.

The bike is an 07 bought from Taz motorcycles with the Akropovic cans thrown in for nowt. I enjoyed the bike, but thought the bottom end wasnt all it should be and the suspension very unforgiving and a little scary over rough back roads. A few head shakes when the front lifts and it felt very tall and heavy. My brother bought one at the same time as me and convinced me we should try to improve them slightly ( against my better judgeent )It has now had a steering damper, power commander and renegade air box fitted. This was fitted and the bike was dyno'd by the excellent lads at Southern Cross motorcycles in London. They also set the suspension up which has made a massive difference. The power, noise and rideability of the bike has been completely changed for the good. I can only tell you what a fantastic machine this is to ride, smiles all the way.The guys at Southern cross fitted some crash bungs through the fairing too, and made an excellent job so you can hardly tell they had cut the panels. On the downside I have had a ooolant leak from the crimped hose clips on the rad and the adjuster on the bottom of the rear shock lost its ratchet with muck getting in all within 10 weeks. Easily sorted though. The battery has gone flat on me too, but you cant turn the lights off when the ignition is on, battery dies very quickly. Note to self, dont leave the ignition on when tinkering to stop the alarm going off Ride one and see for yourself, anyone who has one, seriously consider getting the mods done, you cant imagine how much this transforms the bike

Got myself on the factory and used with intent for toe-down, and i was in no way unimpressed. my "unique" or "bizarre" riding style suited perfectly, 25 mins of skuffing knuckles to alter the suspension was worth every second when i had the knee down on the first roundabout from cold, AMAZED. at first i was slightly aprehensive of being lent it for a "lil blitz" around my fave RaB's but i quickly settled with great amuzment. after coming from the SV following a good 4 hours hard peg scraping, the RSV felt almost easy! despite being what, 20KG heavier, the superior frame and adjustment made the whole show a lot more entertaining. i cannot obv call on the quality of the manufacturing or the value as yet as A) i dont own it and B) its 2 years old, but everything seemed very well put together. i wanna take a VTR SP2 out for some abuse before i can say which big twin is the best for none-ducati money, a 10k trick twin? RSV me away, :P shame im still 22 haha who'd insure me??????? er, someone wanna lend me a SP2 for a few hours??? :P iam in lurve.

been there and done the ducati thing and got it out my system, dont miss it one little bit,i have just bought the new 07 rsvr v60, looks wise its awesome silver red. great powerplant stock pipes sound fine not silent wich is nice. ride and handle once the suspension was set up is planted, truly, on the down side so far all i can pick fault with is the position of the indicator switch. its way to low and horn is in the place were normaly the indicators are ?? odd.

Bought new nov 2005 the money I saved on a deal I spent on on the bike it now has ohlins steering damper r&g crash bungs tail tidy acrapovic sp cans k&n air filter power commander fitted by seastar it is now pushing out 130.50 bhp at the rear wheel & 73 ft.lb of torque more bottom end more mid range joy to ride. Strengths: easy to ride fast, good package. Weaknesses: back brake does not work and needs bleeding a lot

Had an r6 before this and after having a short ride on a ducati a few years ago, i wanted a v twin ever since. nearly bought a ducati but was put off by running costs. ok the aprilia factory isn't exactly cheap to run either, but nothing like the dukes. and they're more reliable, and look nicer, and quite rare. Strengths: equipped with ohlins front and rear and ohlins stearing damper, it takes alot to upset this bike. the brembo brakes are amazing and engine has loads of torque, and if you get a nice set of race cans (i have twin carbon arrows) they sound awesome. And i'll say it again, they are one of the best looking bikes i've seen. turns heads everywhere you go and people always comment on it. doen't feel heavy when riding it and flicks into corners very quick. Weaknesses: i've heard if you order parts from aprilia, you could have to wait a while for them to arrive, but there are alternative place to get parts from, specially around the internet, although i haven't had to buy any yet. the clutch master cylinder is a bit of a pain in the ass as it needs bleeding about every 300 miles but this only takes 2 mins. and no, they certainly aren't comfy... but hey, what sports bikes are these days? gearbox is a little clunky and hard to find neutral, but u get used to it.

Awesome bike, just traded in my 2003 gsxr600 and was a little worried about not having a full blown sports bike, forget it this is one awesome bike, just had 600 mile service and writing this as i got back from using them extra revs, takes a little getting used to, locked up the rear a few times flying into corners and shifting down, but just me not used to the engine braking. Strengths: Midrange, Front brakes, not many about. Weaknesses: Lack of room under rear seat!!!!