Are Aprilia RSV4 1100s (Tuono/sports bike) reliable now?

[3DP]

Evening all. Thinking about an either an RSV4 Factory or Tuono 1100, new or nearly new for a bit of track work and road hoonage (not touring).

What's the engine reliability like now? How are they comparing to KTM Superduke 1290R new generation for reliability overall? Are the RRs worth a look if you spend a bit on the suspension (like V4 vs V4S Panigales?) or is it Factory all the way?

Typically, it'd be a 5 year purchase, outright and much as the new Speed Triple and Speed Triple RR appeal, the Thai quality and lack of AWS seperation from TC settings, rule it out. What are the V4 Aprilia's like to work on yourself from perspective of those who are competent mechanics?

Lots of Qs - thanks in advance!

[podman]

Hi Pete, from my investigations, the Aprilia is far better built than the KTM..

My local dealership, Northampton Moto who I looked at getting a SD from last Summer, have now given up selling KTMs, the dealer told they had around 20 bikes a week in for warranty work, KTM would take more often than not 2-3 months to deliver parts to them and charge the dealer for the parts, before being able to claim back the cost on them via the warranty claim.

Owners feedback on various forums would back this up...

Always exceptions to the rule but out of the 2, id go for the Aprilia.

[3DP]

podman said:

Hi Pete, from my investigations, the Aprilia is far better built than the KTM..

My local dealership, Northampton Moto who I looked at getting a SD from last Summer, have now given up selling KTMs, the dealer told they had around 20 bikes a week in for warranty work, KTM would take more often than not 2-3 months to deliver parts to them and charge the dealer for the parts, before being able to claim back the cost on them via the warranty claim.

Owners feedback on various forums would back this up...

Always exceptions to the rule but out of the 2, id go for the Aprilia.

Hey Bryan - thanks for the heads up - see a bit about the TFTs on KTMs but did not know still issues to that extent. I'm well served for KTM dealers close to me, but nothing decent Aprilia locally. I also have no time for dealer warranty stuff, but plenty of time to fix stuff myself evenings and weekends!

BTW - sorry to read about your Triumph woes. I always had you down as an MT10 SP man - do it - monowheeling, fun, Yamaha fan-bois - they do the works! My MT10 is fully tourered out these days, hence sniffing for another bike that can do a bit of track work and weekend fun.

[r1monkey]

I have a 2015 v41100 factory. i looked at the earlier 1000 cc tuonos and saw they had gearbox / valve/ coolant problems ,so didn't buy one.
I waited until the 1100s were couple of years old and saw that they had no such problems .
I have had mine for 4 years now and it is on 22k . It has been flat out several times over the mountain on the isle of man and i have had no problems at all with it.
I would recommend dunlop roadsmart 3s as they are much better than the corsa tyres that the Apriia came with. Plus the corsas lasted 1700miles compared to the 5000+ miles i got from the rear Dunlop.
The Ducati that i had for 18 months had all sorts of problems .

[podman]

3DP said:

podman said:

Hi Pete, from my investigations, the Aprilia is far better built than the KTM..

My local dealership, Northampton Moto who I looked at getting a SD from last Summer, have now given up selling KTMs, the dealer told they had around 20 bikes a week in for warranty work, KTM would take more often than not 2-3 months to deliver parts to them and charge the dealer for the parts, before being able to claim back the cost on them via the warranty claim.

Owners feedback on various forums would back this up...

Always exceptions to the rule but out of the 2, id go for the Aprilia.

Hey Bryan - thanks for the heads up - see a bit about the TFTs on KTMs but did not know still issues to that extent. I'm well served for KTM dealers close to me, but nothing decent Aprilia locally. I also have no time for dealer warranty stuff, but plenty of time to fix stuff myself evenings and weekends!

BTW - sorry to read about your Triumph woes. I always had you down as an MT10 SP man - do it - monowheeling, fun, Yamaha fan-bois - they do the works! My MT10 is fully tourered out these days, hence sniffing for another bike that can do a bit of track work and weekend fun.

Hi ya Pete, I did take an MT10SP out once in 2018 and again October last year when I knew I was getting out of the Speed Triple.

They just feel crude and saggy Vs the BM , brakes are considerably worse,no down QS, the BM isnt as fashionable so often overlooked but it is a better bike.

Its also a fair bit cheaper to buy the BM as well.

That said, for my money, supernakeds are where its at, any of them will put a smile on your face.

Happy hunting

…..you didnt consider the Ducati then?

[Birky_41]

I put 18,000 on my 16 px'd for my 19 put 21,000 on that and now have the 21

In my opinion if you can afford go 17 Euro 4 onwards. The upgrades on the brakes, electronics, dash, cruise and so on make it worthwhile

I'm a bit of a analytical geek so know and picked up all the little things that nobody talks about between the years

Nothing wrong with the 15-16 and the 1100 engine is a great lump... It's just the Euro 4 from 17 onwards changed a few internals to meet emissions, increased revs by 500rpm and although they claim same power they in fact make more but also a better pickup mid range

19 onwards went electronic suspension, again it's nicer to have but don't rule out a good 18MY if the price is right

I don't know much about the RR but going by what you're asking from a bike I would say the factory is the better route to go

If you go Euro 3 15-16 I highly recommend an RCS19 master... The stock unit is spongy and wooden feeling when you start getting a lick on

You'll get circa 105-110 miles before reserve and another 15-20 on reserve on a typical Sunday ride

15-16 flat out of 165mph 17+ is 170mph due to extra 500rpm

6250 minor service 12500 major. As toxicnerve said that one is a bit of a pig. Dealer price typically £700. Inlet valves can go a bit tight. Both mine did at 12k but didn't move anymore after that

I could waffle loads about them. I got a few uploads of each model, the brake and light upgrade all in here https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdhRDjIHo2sKV4J... it's worth getting a double bubble and the USB in the dash again is handy to have and it's all built in you just need a ten quid eBay cable

[3DP]

podman said:

Hi ya Pete, I did take an MT10SP out once in 2018 and again October last year when I knew I was getting out of the Speed Triple.

They just feel crude and saggy Vs the BM , brakes are considerably worse,no down QS, the BM isnt as fashionable so often overlooked but it is a better bike.

Its also a fair bit cheaper to buy the BM as well.

That said, for my money, supernakeds are where its at, any of them will put a smile on your face.

Happy hunting

…..you didnt consider the Ducati then?

I find the crude fun - saggy and brakes are fixable. Fair points - I wanted to avoid an IL4 (flat plane) as had another IL4 at the time. They are huge fun though.

Ducati doesn't interest me. I like the Panigale V4, but the looks of SF don't do it - too generic, too much plastic, no nice details, 90s Korean car looking headlight unit, plastic wings (which I'm not sure what happens when you wheelie with those, but guessing nothing good!). Also read that you have to ride it like a sports bike before it's fun, whereas I prefer a super naked that plays well at lower speeds.

Birky_41 said:

I put 18,000 on my 16 px'd for my 19 put 21,000 on that and now have the 21

In my opinion if you can afford go 17 Euro 4 onwards. The upgrades on the brakes, electronics, dash, cruise and so on make it worthwhile

I'm a bit of a analytical geek so know and picked up all the little things that nobody talks about between the years

Nothing wrong with the 15-16 and the 1100 engine is a great lump... It's just the Euro 4 from 17 onwards changed a few internals to meet emissions, increased revs by 500rpm and although they claim same power they in fact make more but also a better pickup mid range

19 onwards went electronic suspension, again it's nicer to have but don't rule out a good 18MY if the price is right

I don't know much about the RR but going by what you're asking from a bike I would say the factory is the better route to go

If you go Euro 3 15-16 I highly recommend an RCS19 master... The stock unit is spongy and wooden feeling when you start getting a lick on

You'll get circa 105-110 miles before reserve and another 15-20 on reserve on a typical Sunday ride

15-16 flat out of 165mph 17+ is 170mph due to extra 500rpm

6250 minor service 12500 major. As toxicnerve said that one is a bit of a pig. Dealer price typically £700. Inlet valves can go a bit tight. Both mine did at 12k but didn't move anymore after that

I could waffle loads about them. I got a few uploads of each model, the brake and light upgrade all in here https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdhRDjIHo2sKV4J... it's worth getting a double bubble and the USB in the dash again is handy to have and it's all built in you just need a ten quid eBay cable

Thanks for info and experience - Sounds like they are much improved and Factory ideal. It would be a new or pre-reg bike I think. Go well on track too! Will have a think over Spring.