Discussion
Last weekend I got a new RSV4 1100. My first new bike, or vehicle for that matter. I had been looking for a while and took out a s1000rr but it was boring to me and had the run in limiter on so just as it was waking up the fun was stopped. Last year I had decided a tuono was my next bike but I took a ride on one and just wasn't grabbed by it, it felt heavy and not scare you fast. Also tried a Superduke which I really liked but I had decided to get a sports bike whilst I I'm still the right side of 40. Getting a ride on a rsv4 was difficult, dealers seemed to be between demo bikes so I had to take out a second hand one, but I really liked it on the ride. The main worry was seeing how uncomfortable it would be but I found it surprisingly bearable. The engine feels a step up from the tuono, which obviously it is on the spec sheet but sometimes these things don't translate. Even the extra long hearing doesnt seem to dull it. Handling was great too and it didn't feel heavy like the tuono, so I had found my next bike. The bike I rode had 2000 miles and was basically as new, and I also saw a private sellers one year old bike with 1200 miles but in the interim SP motorcycles had advertised one at £14,999 and the secondhand ones were only £200 and £900 cheaper respectively. I've never bought new and would rather someone else took the first owner depreciation hit but at these prices my mind was made up. I phoned some closer dealers asking them to match but they wouldn't so left a deposit over the phone and got the train to exeter carrying all my gear. Hand over was simple enough and then I was ready to go by 1pm.
The forecast was patchy but it had rained earlier and was pretty dry so headed off gingerly on the my first litre bike fitted with brand new Corsa SPs. I wanted to avoid motorways as much as possible whilst running it in so put Beer in to the sat nav and followed the A road, it was a nice road but then I turned off to beer and I hadn't fully appreciated that I was in Devon so was immediately met with a single track lane down to beer with grass in the middle of the road, not ideal! Luckily traffic was minimal and a mile or 2 later I stopped off to take in the sea and take a picture.
I wanted to follow the coast so put Christchurch in the sat nav and headed off but soon after the roads started to get wet, a little daunting on 30 mile old tyres. Then it started raining so after 10 minutes I pulled over to put on my oversuit but of course it then stopped. I decided to go to Worthing for the run up through the South downs and hoping it would clear up by the time I got there and it did but after about 3 and a half hours on the bike and wet I was feeling pretty tired and getting used to the riding position was making me feel a little fed up. A whopper meal was needed so I headed to burger king and recouped. The half hour off the bike did wonders and I headed up to the South downs finding some lovely roads to help gel with the bike. By this point I was comfortable in the tyres and brakes and could enjoy the roads even with the 7500 rev limit. One of the roads was the 'hill climb' lamb chops rides goes on so it was funny to happen across that and feel like I knew it when I'd not ridden it before.
Getting back up in to Surrey it started to get dark so got on the motorway and just got home trying to vary revs and gears and probably looking like I didn't know what I was doing. 220 miles in a day had been ticked off the running in and I felt susprisingly good. My neck was the main area that was aching but that wasn't too bad, wrists were fine and legs too. Sunday was a lovely day too so headed out for 30 minutes which turned in to 2 hours and the roads around Essendon that I rode on my bike safe course, another 90 miles done. Again feeling fine and finding little ways of making myself more comfortable on the bike. Tuesday was another sunny day so headed up to Silverstone for ride on the a413 and the road up to wappenham, had a great ride with minimal traffic really appreciating the bike on the open roads.
Then on Saturday I was out to Dunstable downs but although the roads were dry the leaves on the road lead to circumspection but I am up to 500 miles now and nearly ready for the first service in 10 days.
The forecast was patchy but it had rained earlier and was pretty dry so headed off gingerly on the my first litre bike fitted with brand new Corsa SPs. I wanted to avoid motorways as much as possible whilst running it in so put Beer in to the sat nav and followed the A road, it was a nice road but then I turned off to beer and I hadn't fully appreciated that I was in Devon so was immediately met with a single track lane down to beer with grass in the middle of the road, not ideal! Luckily traffic was minimal and a mile or 2 later I stopped off to take in the sea and take a picture.
I wanted to follow the coast so put Christchurch in the sat nav and headed off but soon after the roads started to get wet, a little daunting on 30 mile old tyres. Then it started raining so after 10 minutes I pulled over to put on my oversuit but of course it then stopped. I decided to go to Worthing for the run up through the South downs and hoping it would clear up by the time I got there and it did but after about 3 and a half hours on the bike and wet I was feeling pretty tired and getting used to the riding position was making me feel a little fed up. A whopper meal was needed so I headed to burger king and recouped. The half hour off the bike did wonders and I headed up to the South downs finding some lovely roads to help gel with the bike. By this point I was comfortable in the tyres and brakes and could enjoy the roads even with the 7500 rev limit. One of the roads was the 'hill climb' lamb chops rides goes on so it was funny to happen across that and feel like I knew it when I'd not ridden it before.
Getting back up in to Surrey it started to get dark so got on the motorway and just got home trying to vary revs and gears and probably looking like I didn't know what I was doing. 220 miles in a day had been ticked off the running in and I felt susprisingly good. My neck was the main area that was aching but that wasn't too bad, wrists were fine and legs too. Sunday was a lovely day too so headed out for 30 minutes which turned in to 2 hours and the roads around Essendon that I rode on my bike safe course, another 90 miles done. Again feeling fine and finding little ways of making myself more comfortable on the bike. Tuesday was another sunny day so headed up to Silverstone for ride on the a413 and the road up to wappenham, had a great ride with minimal traffic really appreciating the bike on the open roads.
Then on Saturday I was out to Dunstable downs but although the roads were dry the leaves on the road lead to circumspection but I am up to 500 miles now and nearly ready for the first service in 10 days.
Lovely stuff, and nice write up - thanks for sharing.
Completely agree with you about getting on a sportsbike before your body no longer allows it - I’ve had them since I started riding and came close a month or two ago to getting rid, before common (non)sense prevailed and decided to keep the Fireblade. ***k it, you’re only in your thirties once.
Completely agree with you about getting on a sportsbike before your body no longer allows it - I’ve had them since I started riding and came close a month or two ago to getting rid, before common (non)sense prevailed and decided to keep the Fireblade. ***k it, you’re only in your thirties once.
ccr32 said:
Lovely stuff, and nice write up - thanks for sharing.
Completely agree with you about getting on a sportsbike before your body no longer allows it - I’ve had them since I started riding and came close a month or two ago to getting rid, before common (non)sense prevailed and decided to keep the Fireblade. ***k it, you’re only in your thirties once.
I’m 40 next year and really thinking one of these would be a great present!, this is so much bike for 15k, great bike OP I bet you’re enjoying it.Completely agree with you about getting on a sportsbike before your body no longer allows it - I’ve had them since I started riding and came close a month or two ago to getting rid, before common (non)sense prevailed and decided to keep the Fireblade. ***k it, you’re only in your thirties once.
five50 said:
Nice write up - thank you.
Sounds like a great purchase.
Have also noticed the deals on these - understand it’s the same bike as the factory just different suspension and maybe wheels for a big saving?
Enjoy!
Yeah only wheels and suspension, comes with the same tyres and even a lithium battery too. KTM centre in Hemel let me take out both the Superduke and the Superduke Evo to see the difference between suspension and honestly I couldn't tell any difference even when changing modes. I know it's a different system on the Aprilia but it didn't make me think the upgrade was worth the money. Sounds like a great purchase.
Have also noticed the deals on these - understand it’s the same bike as the factory just different suspension and maybe wheels for a big saving?
Enjoy!
ccr32 said:
Lovely stuff, and nice write up - thanks for sharing.
Completely agree with you about getting on a sportsbike before your body no longer allows it - I’ve had them since I started riding and came close a month or two ago to getting rid, before common (non)sense prevailed and decided to keep the Fireblade. ***k it, you’re only in your thirties once.
Thanks, yeah the more I ride it the more comfortable it feels hoping that getting used to it and riding it regularly enough keeps it that way.Completely agree with you about getting on a sportsbike before your body no longer allows it - I’ve had them since I started riding and came close a month or two ago to getting rid, before common (non)sense prevailed and decided to keep the Fireblade. ***k it, you’re only in your thirties once.
Walter Sobchak said:
I’m 40 next year and really thinking one of these would be a great present!, this is so much bike for 15k, great bike OP I bet you’re enjoying it.
Loved it on the faster flowing roads, I'm definitely going to have to do some longer journeys next year to find the good ones, maybe even go to Europe before winter comes if I can fit in and the weather looks okcarinaman said:
Congratulations and bravo for getting it wet on collection day.
Thanks I think it was a good thing to get it out the way! If you're buying a bike at this time of year it's going to happen, if you don't get it wet you're not riding itEdited by GreaseNipple on Tuesday 25th October 00:07
That was quite a decent ride back from Devon 
I visit Beer a couple of times a year. Lovely little place but the roads down there wouldn't be my first choice on a brand new superbike. You should have gone to Sidmouth instead. Always wish I was on the bike when I'm driving there with the family.
I visit Beer a couple of times a year. Lovely little place but the roads down there wouldn't be my first choice on a brand new superbike. You should have gone to Sidmouth instead. Always wish I was on the bike when I'm driving there with the family.
Got the 600 miles up, managed to coincide with the end of my ride yesterday so half tempted to put it in my van and take it to the dealer 25 miles away for its service next week.
Had another good ride out yesterday, took the B656 then on to the A507 it was so nice in the sun, very lucky to have run it in during such a nice spell of weather. Traffic was heavyish on the run up and there's plenty of double white lines but the way back was clearer and I was loving it B656 was a nice little stretch I'd not been on before. Looking forward to extending the engine more after the service now though.
Bought some R&G crash bungs to put on it. Every bike I've bought has had crash protection fitted when I got them. I didn't realise how heavy they'd be.
Great to see another rider enjoying an Aprilia. I'd definitely have the RSV4 as my next track bike but I liked the tuono more as a road bike purely for what I do and comfort (I'm also 40) but do completely agree having ridden an RSV4 1100 the Tuono does feel heavier and doesn't have the bonkers top end rush
Working assumptive here based on the 3 Tuono 1100s I've owned you'll find the engine/gearbox really loosen by about 1500ish miles and by 3000 or so the mpg is definitely better
All mine use a bit of oil but marginal however they do take a couple hundred mil until about that 1500 miles
Working assumptive here based on the 3 Tuono 1100s I've owned you'll find the engine/gearbox really loosen by about 1500ish miles and by 3000 or so the mpg is definitely better
All mine use a bit of oil but marginal however they do take a couple hundred mil until about that 1500 miles
OP, congratulations for purchasing a great bike. I also have a Aprilia itch but holding back for now as I'm not sure whether it will work for me. I live in London and previously run an 899 that was getting just too hot nearly instantly to be used anywhere other heading to the countryside.
How practical do you find the RSV4 in town? Is it getting hot and how is fueling in urban speed?
How practical do you find the RSV4 in town? Is it getting hot and how is fueling in urban speed?
I’ve got an earlier 2011 RSV4R APRC at the moment, sadly I’ve not had much time to get out on it this year but plan to much more next year, wouldn’t mind upgrading to one like this though, think the OP had the right idea getting the normal model over the Factory too, I’m not sure how much difference the Ohlins suspension and lighter wheels would make on a bike that’s already this good.
Birky_41 said:
Great to see another rider enjoying an Aprilia. I'd definitely have the RSV4 as my next track bike but I liked the tuono more as a road bike purely for what I do and comfort (I'm also 40) but do completely agree having ridden an RSV4 1100 the Tuono does feel heavier and doesn't have the bonkers top end rush
Working assumptive here based on the 3 Tuono 1100s I've owned you'll find the engine/gearbox really loosen by about 1500ish miles and by 3000 or so the mpg is definitely better
All mine use a bit of oil but marginal however they do take a couple hundred mil until about that 1500 miles
I had noticed the quickshifter getting slicker on the last ride look, the dealer said they use a bit of oil and to keep an eye on it, annoying they don't have a sight glass! It's nice to know it's all under warranty with a new bike though. Have you extended the warranties with your previous tuonos?Working assumptive here based on the 3 Tuono 1100s I've owned you'll find the engine/gearbox really loosen by about 1500ish miles and by 3000 or so the mpg is definitely better
All mine use a bit of oil but marginal however they do take a couple hundred mil until about that 1500 miles
Motorsport3 said:
OP, congratulations for purchasing a great bike. I also have a Aprilia itch but holding back for now as I'm not sure whether it will work for me. I live in London and previously run an 899 that was getting just too hot nearly instantly to be used anywhere other heading to the countryside.
How practical do you find the RSV4 in town? Is it getting hot and how is fueling in urban speed?
I've been surprised by how little heat it gives off actually, I've been wearing leathers and it's not been that hot obviously but at no point have I even registered it getting hot. I've not done much urban riding though tbf. Fuelling is absolutely fine, one thing you notice about these modern 200+bhp bikes is how easy they are to ride. I think the long gearing would be the biggest hindrance to London riding, with all the 20 mph limits these days, apart from the riding position but that's just standard sportsbike fair. How practical do you find the RSV4 in town? Is it getting hot and how is fueling in urban speed?
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