Think I'm done buying bikes for a while (RSV4)

[dave42]

Rode this sucka home a couple of nights ago after staring at it for half a year:



The handling is surprisingly nimble; took very little effort to tip in and holds its lines extremely well. Lots of electronic doodads to learn though (been riding it around instead of sitting down and reading through 287 pages of manual full of "this light means <x>" without instructions of how to go about to set that damn light). Starting the engine and blipping down the gears are both hilariously loud too.

[c-dog]

Now that is sick! Nice bike. Premium quality stuff on it too. Nothing budget on that bike.

Specs sound similar to a liter bike. How does a standard liter inline 4 bike compare to it? I bet it sounds amazing with a roar. Is the torque down lower in the range than a standard liter? Had a 10R before and loved it, but I bet this is even better.

Would enjoy hearing some of your thoughts on this bike. And what it is like riding it in comparison to some other bikes you have ridden.

[csmith12]

This is my 3rd choice of bike. One day...... gratz on yours.

[Aggrotech]

plan on leaving it next to that vw golf? Think it'd be better off in ur bedroom D:

[sharky nrk]

beautiful ........ congrats

[Bigballsofpaint]

Congrats, i LOVE that bike. Was hoping to get one but for my riding right now its not practical at all.

Chris, whats your list of top 5 bikes? Im curious here. For 600's its hand down the new 636 for me, but when it comes to the liters, i cant decide between the 10r, the rc8 or this.

[Jono]

Beautiful!!!!

[nickjpass]

Probably sounds similar to a MotoGP cycle

[dave42]

Thanks, guys.

On engine characteristics, c-dog, I think the biggest difference is the v4 doesn't feel as flat as an inline 4. With that said, the RSV4 feels a bit more finicky than the zx10r I hopped on before and takes a bit more babying on the controls. If you don't nurse the clutch while taking off it'll start making unhappy sounds/vibrations at you. Power and acceleration-wise I don't think there's much of a difference although the feel between the 2 are certainly night and day. The zx10r is predictable and smooth until you crank that throttle pass the 1/2 point and your face starts melting. The RSV4 makes you pay more attention right from the get-go and then you start giggling because the v4 starts rumbling at a whole different volume and the bike starts vibrating a different way and then you realized your face is melting.

Compared to my zx6 it seems the Aprilia likes to go sideways and then stay there. Like I said before, turn in is very easy even compared to the 600, which is a bit surprising. Next test is to do a quick run in my local twisties and see how the bike flicks.

[Boosted139]

Originally Posted by dave42

Thanks, guys.

On engine characteristics, c-dog, I think the biggest difference is the v4 doesn't feel as flat as an inline 4. With that said, the RSV4 feels a bit more finicky than the zx10r I hopped on before and takes a bit more babying on the controls. If you don't nurse the clutch while taking off it'll start making unhappy sounds/vibrations at you. Power and acceleration-wise I don't think there's much of a difference although the feel between the 2 are certainly night and day. The zx10r is predictable and smooth until you crank that throttle pass the 1/2 point and your face starts melting. The RSV4 makes you pay more attention right from the get-go and then you start giggling because the v4 starts rumbling at a whole different volume and the bike starts vibrating a different way and then you realized your face is melting.

Compared to my zx6 it seems the Aprilia likes to go sideways and then stay there. Like I said before, turn in is very easy even compared to the 600, which is a bit surprising. Next test is to do a quick run in my local twisties and see how the bike flicks.

the zx6r has some of the worst stock geometry (for the track), hence why you feel your aprillia turns better

[CC Cowboy]

Beautious!

[adouglas]

That bike makes me feel funny in my pants.

[backinthesaddleagain]

sweet, good luck

[Racer x]

Fantastic bike. Take good care of it. It is a keeper. Everything the VFR is not

[alex.s]

take good care of that beautiful baby

[Sirref]

that bike has to feel like pure awesome italiano. Make sure to do a writeup on how the bike is to live with (i.e. commute with) at some point. I know ducati's (excluding monster) suck for daily riding and am wondering if that's an italian thing or a ducati thing.

Originally Posted by Bigballsofpaint

Chris, whats your list of top 5 bikes? Im curious here. For 600's its hand down the new 636 for me, but when it comes to the liters, i cant decide between the 10r, the rc8 or this.

@csmith12 I'm interested too.

[backinthesaddleagain]

^^
I've ridden the S1000RR, the ZX10R, and the RC8R. Three friends have the RC8R. Its a great all around bike, the V twin engine gives loads of torque for real world riding. Always draws a crowd, usually asking what is that bike? That said I enjoyed the S1000RR, just felt like such raw power. To me the ZX10R felt like a really electric, smooth engine. Stock it seems to be tall in the front, needing to shim the shock and move the forks up in the clamps to make it steer quicker. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, its just personal choice.

[Aggrotech]

moar pics pls D:

[dave42]

Did a GMR run today to see how the new bike flicks left and right on some tight turning mountain roads. And just as I thought, it didn't take much effort going through tight turns and changing directions at all. I've also finally set the clock on the console, the only thing left is calibrate that traction control (whenever the heck that is).

I'm not really big on taking pictures though; the only new pic I managed to grab today is from when we pulled over to take a breather:



Then there's one from yesterday when I went and trolled a rival dealership (not really trolling; I went there to look at a few parts and just so happens that the paper dealer plate where I bought the bike from is still installed. Had some looks since that dealer doesn't carry any Aprilias):

[NinjaCowgirl]

WowOWow - serious dream machine! Congrats!!

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Bigballsofpaint

Chris, whats your list of top 5 bikes? Im curious here. For 600's its hand down the new 636 for me, but when it comes to the liters, i cant decide between the 10r, the rc8 or this.

Originally Posted by Sirref

@csmith12 I'm interested too.

Here is my "realistic" list.

R6 Me and this bike just get along
RC8 - reminds me of my HD days....... memories (I did a write up on the rc8)
Aprilia RSV4 - fo shizzle
Agusta F3 - for no other reason that they are hot
Aprilia RS 125 2 Stroke - serious fun factor

Although I have my list, I am pretty sure my next bike will be some sort of triple, daytona speed triple maybe... but I will test ride the new 636 before I finally decide, just feeling something different.

[Sirref]

The 636 will likely be very similar feeling to your r6, if different is what you want then the triples will be drastically different from the I4 japanese clones.

I'm pretty much agreeing with that list, particularly the RC8, RSV4, and the F3. Other than that a supermoto/dual sport and a street/speed triple to round out the list a bit would probably work.

If that's your realistic list then is your unrealistic list a bunch of ducati superleggeras?

Lol at the dealer trolling, I probably wouldn't do that myself just to avoid unnecessarily pissing people off

[Klondike1020]

Originally Posted by dave42

Eye catching bike...Very sharp ... I can only imagine what a ride that is lol

[dave42]

Oh and I forgot something; the RSV4 comes with both a pillion seat and a cowl. Helmet hooks are located on the underside of the pillion seat only. I had no idea when I took that pic at the other dealer's parking lot so I ended up tying up my helmet on the zx6r instead.

Still need to figure out how I'm gonna strap on my kriega tail pack...

[dave42]

Getting more used to it after 11 days of riding around on this new bike. This is from my fiancee's view when we went up to the hills 2 days after riding the RSV4 home:



Last Sunday I rode a little bit faster:



Commuting-wise I haven't had any problems moving it around cars or making tight turns. Our zx6r felt low and light when I moved it from one end of the drive way to the spot where we normally park it; wonder how light our 250 will feel like the next time I hop on it.

[Sirref]

If you have a road cycle skip the 250 and hop on that to be shocked by how light it is. I was never more shocked by the lightweight of my mtb than after I had been riding my 250 for a few weeks instead of the bicycle to school.

[Gurk]

Almost walked out with one the other day myself. RSV4 grew on me so fast lately. And just being in presence of one makes you wanna pull the trigger. I might give in to the temptation soon.

[dave42]

Test ride one if you get a chance to, Gurk. Pretty different animal compared to an inline-4 600cc SS.

I did some MPG comparisons on the 3 different mappings. First test was on the intermediate (sport) mode where the first 2 gears are reduced power, then a tank on boring (road) mode which reduces power on all gears, then finally giggle (track) mode which isn't reduced anywhere. On day-to-day work commute the difference between boring mode and track mode is a whopping .9 mpgs worth of difference.

Gonna stick with track mode from now on just for the fun factor.

[Ducati999]

Beautiful Bike! Congrats and I am not surprised that you love it, a bunch of the Bike mags named it as the best bike for the money. They compared a bunch of bikes (CBR600, MV Agusta F4, GSXR 750, CBR 1000 BMW S1000RR) against the Aprillia and the picked the Aprillia as the best sport bike value for the dollar! Wish I lived closer to you so we could ride together sometime. Enjoy and really, take the time to learn the electronics, once you get them set to your liking the bike can really be pushed hard and still have a great (voted best for all electronic safety) margin of safety with the proper set up.

[Gurk]

Originally Posted by dave42

Test ride one if you get a chance to, Gurk. Pretty different animal compared to an inline-4 600cc SS.

Would assume so. I'll see if they do test rides in that dealer. The only problem for me is that I don't know what I'd do with a brand new bike. I don't think I'd track it cause I'd kill myself if/when I crash it. And I sure won't commute on it cause my commute is 55 miles and I wouldn't dare park that thing in downtown SF.

So yeah I guess it would be a weekend fun toy. Which is alright I suppose.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by Gurk

Would assume so. I'll see if they do test rides in that dealer. The only problem for me is that I don't know what I'd do with a brand new bike. I don't think I'd track it cause I'd kill myself if/when I crash it. And I sure won't commute on it cause my commute is 55 miles and I wouldn't dare park that thing in downtown SF.

So yeah I guess it would be a weekend fun toy. Which is alright I suppose.

you should definitely go buy an rsv4.

[Gurk]

Originally Posted by alex.s

you should definitely go buy an rsv4.

i probably will. does that upset you?

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by Gurk

i probably will. does that upset you?

it excites me in the pants.

[Gurk]

Originally Posted by alex.s

it excites me in the pants.

You are insignificant.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by Gurk

You are insignificant.

haha what? ... ok ...

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by Gurk

You are insignificant.

[dave42]

Get a room, you two.

[250rr]

No don't. Do it here.

[nickjpass]

@250rr

[dave42]

Quick update after a year of ownership: no major issues aside from typical Italian-ness stuff like it's harder to find neutral than my Kawasakis. And the Metzler K3 got pretty chewed up after 4k miles. I've replaced them with Dunlop Q3s and will see how long those last (have them on our ZX6R and I'm pretty used to how they feel). My legs get pretty toasty if I'm wearing textile instead of leathers during street riding.

Just finished California Superbike School's level 1 this past weekend on it:





Planning on taking level 2 late this year so I can get my visual skills up more.