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General SportbikesThis area is made for sportbikes in general. Posts that dont really belong anywhere else besides here. Questions can be answered and addressed to fully understand certain aspects. If your question is Manufacturer specific please post it there.
Posts: 772
Casino Cash: $19097
Sportbike: '01 Aprilia RSV Mille R
The biggest problem I've run into is typically you know more about the bike than the dealer. Aprilia is a big name in Europe, they've had incredible MotoGP success, but they don't sell many bikes in America. You can't take them into any garden variety motorcycle shop for service. But there are good knowledgeable dealers out there. If the OP is thinking about purchasing from Moto International, he's got nothing to worry about, they're an A+ dealer, ranked #2 in N. America behind AF1 Racing in Texas.
Here's something you may find interesting. It's an interview with Dave Richardson, the owner of Moto International, on Aprilia and what makes them special.
I thought when we first had Aprilia we’d have a bunch of young guys looking at GSXs who wanted to come and look at these and race around on them. It doesn’t happen.
These things are way off the map for them. I don’t know if they don’t know Aprilia exists, or they’re too exotic, or too expensive, or what it is. We’re three blocks from a Suzuki shop and we don’t get the 22 year-old kids looking at our bikes.
Quote:
I’ve had people come in and look at Aprilias and say, “Gee everyone has a Ducati. I want to be different.” That blows my mind because I was a Ducati guy in the 70s and early 80s. I had a regular group of friends I would do vacation rides with in Portland because there just weren’t any Ducatis in Seattle. The people who had them, they were special bikes and they never rode them.
It just blows my mind that people think that Ducati is the thing everyone has.
There will always be a counter-culture bike. The Victory is for the guy who wants something that isn’t Japanese but more modern than a Harley. It’s a niche. That’s where Aprilia has got themselves. They’re the anit-Ducati. They want to be more than that, but they’re not doing a good job I think of expressing who the company is by way of being more than that.
To me, the two companies are quite opposite. Aprilia does everything to make a bike that performs well, fuss-free, low maintenance, very durable, all these things, but they don’t have any aura about them like Ducati does. Ducati has the aura.
Quote:
Aprilia has such potential to have such a great aura around them. There are three classes of GP racing for motorcycles, and three for the riders. That’s six. Of the six, Ducati won two and Aprilia won the other four. How many American’s would even know that? Who the heck cares about 125 and 250?
Tuono is supposedly the baddest naked you can buy. Take a test ride, you'll love it.
Does anybody know how much the RSVR goes for in the states? This guy I konw just bought one here in England for $11,500(dollars not pounds) otd for an 07 RSVR. They're nice bikes, I love the way they look. Although the seat is pretty wide or too square on the RSVR.
Posts: 772
Casino Cash: $19097
Sportbike: '01 Aprilia RSV Mille R
That's a good deal for England. I know stuff typically costs more there. I think you can get a new RSVR in the US for around 12-13k if you shop around. The Factory is closer to 17k. The latest models are based on the 2004 refresh, so they're not as exciting as the new Ducs. But the RSV-4 will put them back in contention.
I don't have much seat time with the newer bikes. They are well known for being comfortable as sportbikes go, but that is on a case-by-case basis. I like the wider seats because it gives you room to move around. But they're not the best choice for shorter people. I get a backache just sitting on Ducatis. Those bikes are made for jockeys.
I don't have any seat time at all on any Aprilia. The 07 RSVR I sat on, the seat was putting a lot of pressure on my inner thighs, I don't think it's because I'm too short, I can flat foot the bike.
Please elaborate! What's your gripe with the company?
Parts supply and dealer network. At any given time, there can be a basic wear item that is unavailable. Bikes sit for months. Some dealers just want to sell bikes and not work on them. I had to go on-line to get information for a dealer during my last rear tire change. They were clueless. They have no intention of getting a manual or tools for my bike. They can't balance my rear after they put the tire on. Etc.
Parts supply and dealer network. At any given time, there can be a basic wear item that is unavailable. Bikes sit for months. Some dealers just want to sell bikes and not work on them. I had to go on-line to get information for a dealer during my last rear tire change. They were clueless. They have no intention of getting a manual or tools for my bike. They can't balance my rear after they put the tire on. Etc.
This is the only thing that worries me about owning an Aprilia in the states. Not a lot of people know how to work on them and the parts are scarce.
That's a good deal for England. I know stuff typically costs more there. I think you can get a new RSVR in the US for around 12-13k if you shop around. The Factory is closer to 17k. The latest models are based on the 2004 refresh, so they're not as exciting as the new Ducs. But the RSV-4 will put them back in contention.
I don't have much seat time with the newer bikes. They are well known for being comfortable as sportbikes go, but that is on a case-by-case basis. I like the wider seats because it gives you room to move around. But they're not the best choice for shorter people. I get a backache just sitting on Ducatis. Those bikes are made for jockeys.
Yeah, I was surprised he got it for that cheap. I'm surprised they only cost 12-13k in the states. I thought they'd be more than that.
Aprillia makes a good bike that's not so common. When I just bought my new bike a few weeks ago it was between the Aprillia RSV Factory of the Ducati 1098S. I ended up going with the 1098S since the dealer is close to home (it's an hour plus to the Aprillia dealer) and the Ducati dealer took decent care of me. Couple that with the Aprillia reminded me a little too much of my RC51 that I was going to be getting rid of. The pipes were similar, the styling somewhat similar. I just liked the differences that the Ducati offered up. Ducati makes some cool bikes too in the same price range as the Aprillia and you don't see those daily either. The bike you're looking at is a sharp ride indeed.
i don't think the touno is attractive at all. it's a naked but you can't see the engine (besides that stator and clutch covers) through all of the clutter and the headlight fairing just doesn't look right either.
i wouldn't mind an RSV though
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...Until we see each other once more on the path along the way
A friend has one, too it for a spin. Reminded me a lot of my 87 700 VFR. In that she was very nimble. You had to stay sharp and awake when riding and she loved to eat up corners.
Now if you a half brains moron who is more interested in impressing girls, get a GSXR.
If you want to feel the hairs on your ass stand up on end. Then get an Aprillia.
And that 1L V Twin has a great sound!
As for the cons? Parts are very expensive and hard to find some times.
Posts: 772
Casino Cash: $19097
Sportbike: '01 Aprilia RSV Mille R
Quote:
Originally Posted by kangkong
Yeah, I was surprised he got it for that cheap. I'm surprised they only cost 12-13k in the states. I thought they'd be more than that.
MSRP is about 14k, but you can get discounts.
Parts aren't that hard to find nowadays, almost anything you need is just a click away on the internet. But there are a lot of poor dealers. Although you've got nothing to worry about if you live in a major city. I know on the west coast, Seattle, Portland, Bay Area, LA, and Phoenix all have trustworthy dealers.
Honestly they don't break very often. But don't expect to find a million used parts on ebay like with the more common big four bikes.
My friend paid $11,6xx OTD for his leftover '07 new last weekend. They had started receiving their '08's and had some sort of special going on to move out the '07's.
The tuono is a cool looking ride woo hoo. Read nothing but good things about them. But I think you will miss the full fairing. I would like a naked but honestly zoro, I rode a cruiser for years and I dont miss the wind and the bugs, I definatly like weather protection with the fairing.
Those bikes are made for jockeys.
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