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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.
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.
I agree with this. I do like the full faring bikes. I'll stick with my little GSXR600 for now but if I make the move upstairs, I think I HAVE to consdier the Aprilia. I LOVE the looks of this bike but have not driven one. I can drive any Aprilia or Motoguzi anytime I want due to my connection.
They are fabulous machines, that really don't do much for me personally. As others have noted, they're fast, good handling, durable and reliable, unusual, and so on. People that own them typically love them. Somehow I've just never found them appealing. They feel tall and top heavy to me, the styling is not to my taste, and the sound is not mellifluous like a Duc is. If they appeal to you aesthetically, then get one and you'll very likely be really satisfied.
I've ridden a few of them, and a friend has a Futura that I've done a couple weekend trips on with my wife. They're highly capable and seem to hold up well. Just not quite my cup o' tea.
(Interestingly, I recently test rode one of the new Buell 1125's with the Rotax engine, and 95% of what I wrote above applies to that bike too.)
PhilB
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nope don't like them and here's why, my friend who does like and own them has had nothing but trouble with them. the 2002 mille burnt it's wiring down, the rear brake and clutch need to be bled frequentley. the 02 or 03 futura he had also had the identical same issue's as the 02 mille. now he is riding a 2004 mille and guess what yep you guessed it, wiring problems, rear brake issue's and the most recent issue of large chunks of brass looking metal was in the oil after an oil change. the man that ownes these bikes is in his mid 40's and is anal about bike care, he keeps them all stock and doesnt ride them to hard unless he is doing track day's. all in all for the price of these things there are several better choices than an aprilla.
nope don't like them and here's why, my friend who does like and own them has had nothing but trouble with them. the 2002 mille burnt it's wiring down, the rear brake and clutch need to be bled frequentley. the 02 or 03 futura he had also had the identical same issue's as the 02 mille. now he is riding a 2004 mille and guess what yep you guessed it, wiring problems, rear brake issue's and the most recent issue of large chunks of brass looking metal was in the oil after an oil change. the man that ownes these bikes is in his mid 40's and is anal about bike care, he keeps them all stock and doesnt ride them to hard unless he is doing track day's. all in all for the price of these things there are several better choices than an aprilla.
Does your friend know you can send in an oil sample for analysis? Costs like 20 dollars and will tell you what is wearing on your engine.
I got my Tuono Friday morning and put about 300 miles on it. I also have a 2006 zx6r. After riding the T for about an hour I have zero interest to ride the kawi on the street. The Aprilia does everything better. More comfortable, more power, better suspension, better brakes, better fit/finish. The kawi will be turned into a track bike. The Aprilia is amazing so far. Plus the sound is amazing.
Posts: 772
Casino Cash: $19097
Sportbike: '01 Aprilia RSV Mille R
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unreal
Plus the sound is amazing.
The idle is staccato, it's not a desmo or harley v-twin. But they don't have a monopoly on "cool" sounding v-twin engines. With an exhaust at full rip, the V60 Rotax does sound amazing.
I just sold off my Falco to fund other toys, but another Aprilia will be in my garage again someday. The dealer issue isn't a problem for me. I do all my work on my own, and in the rare occasion that I need parts, AF1 Racing is but a phone call (or a click) away, and you're set. Awesome bikes.
And yeah, the whole Japanese litre bike cost to a Factory RSVR argument doesn't really hold. Full Ohlins (including damper), Marchesini (spl) wheels, and other lovely goodies already installed on the 'Priller. Plus the RSVR won the Masterbike Competition (or whatever it is called) just one or two years ago. If I were a bike manufacturer, I'd love to have that on my resume.
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- Bobby
Follow the litre
It's always Duc season in my book
Nothing like twins messing around between your legs.
Why would it be so difficult to get Rotax parts??? Doesn't KTM use a Rotax? Shoot... with Brembo, Ohlins, etc., it seems to me it would be fairly simple to get anything you might need.
I think they're damn good lookin'!
The engine is bullet-proof, so you're not ever really needing parts for it save for shims every now and then if your valves even need it. But those are pretty easily obtained at a regular Aprilia dealer. My local one didn't have an issue sourcing the ones I needed.
It's the other bits on the bike specific to Aprilia that can sometimes be irritating to get. But again, AF1 Racing has seemed to greatly expand their catalog of Aprilia parts since just a couple years ago. In my 2+ years of owning an Aprilia, I never had an issue of needing a part and having it placed on backorder as it sat on a ship coming from Italy. The parts thing used to be a much bigger deal a couple years ago, but it is so much better its not even funny. Aprilia just has to try and separate itself from its past history.
__________________
- Bobby
Follow the litre
It's always Duc season in my book
Nothing like twins messing around between your legs.
Posts: 772
Casino Cash: $19097
Sportbike: '01 Aprilia RSV Mille R
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChefJoe
it seems to me it would be fairly simple to get anything you might need.
The Rotax's reliability is as good as it gets. Along with KTM, they make engines for propeller airplanes, jetskis, ATVs and other MC companies like BMW.
Dealers don't carry spare parts inventory like a Honda, but buying parts is really no more difficult than with other European brands like Triumph or Ducati. Of course, the Aprilia aftermarket selection is nowhere near as large as the Jpn bikes.
Just about anything you can imagine can be shipped within 1-2 weeks from Italy. It's not difficult to acquire parts for them anymore. Dealers like AF1 can get you anything you need.
Delay on parts was a problem a few years ago when they had some financial difficulty. But Aprilia is now owned by Piaggio group, a big multi-billion conglomerate flush with cash. They're competing in superbike next year.
I think the RSV-4 will make an impact.
I haven't had to order any parts besides the usual consumable items.
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Sportbike: See sig.
I absolutely LOVE my '03 Tuono.
If you're able to do basic stuff like oil changes & maybe some wiring stuff, there's no reason you should be afraid of buying one. These motors are damn near bulletproof, the Rotax is phenominal. Mine's got about 18k on it now & she's barely broken in. The 990 V60 lasts forever.
Italian style, honda reliability.
(but also Italian wiring... I've gotta make a couple changes to the charging system to run my heated grips, vest & Valentine 1. Otherwise it's rock solid.)
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