Motorcycles: Time for a change.

[legzr1]

After 3 and half years and 17,000 miles it was time for a change so it's bye bye to the Nazi missile nutter bastard S1000RR and hello to little Bambino.

Loved my Duc 1198S (especially the noise, poise and lovely forged wheels, brembo monoblocks and Ohlins suspension - just I couldn't live with that low rev v-twin jerkiness and running out of breath at 9500 rpm) so, a compromise:



Pre-registred by the dealer in March and sat in the showroom ever since - just 1 mile on the clock and a £3400 discount off rrp.

2 year warranty to start from day of purchase rather than day of registration too which is good for anything Italian...

After a few years of harsh Sachs and Showa suspension, Ohlins makes a very nice change.

 

[brystonian]

Very nice.

Hopefully You'll get the best of both worlds.

 

[Leonard Smalls]

Very sensible...

Though I'd have been tempted to get something that is almost impossible to ride over 100mph due to wind blast, purely for my licence's sake!

 

[gjm]

I'm still far too old school. I love the RSV Mille. Such a fabulous bike to ride. And almost as good to look at from a seat on a coffee shop terrace.

 

[legzr1]

Leonard, I'm 6' 4 so any modern bike gives me huge windblast which acts as a great reminder when the speed creeps up.

The 'prilia is tiny in the flesh and looks like a 125 when parked next to other 'normal' bikes but it is actually far more comfortable for me than the S1000. The tall seat and relatively high clipons must be helping.

Early impressions indicate I've made a good choice although, as is the norm for Italian bikes, it's way overgeared - 1st feels like 2nd on most bikes and I didn't get out of third on the seven mile trip home! Easily sorted for £20 though.

Gjm, nothing wrong with the Milles - dealer had a new shape last of the model Factory with Oz and Ohlins and it looked fantastic.

I was never keen on the look of the first model but this one looked great.

Good price too.

 

[rockmeister]

Always fancied an Aprillia, but never even sat on one. My Italian twins experience also agrees that slipping the clutch (normally requiring the wrists of a Gorilla to boot) at anything under 20mph is the norm.

Do the Italians ride in town?

Anyway, hope you love it!

 

[ncdrawl]

why do you brits love those goddamn crotch rockets so much?

how ghey.

 

[gjm]

why do you brits love those goddamn crotch rockets so much?how ghey.

Good grief mate! When I was in the US, the stereotypical American cruiser rider was a reality - all those chaps riding around in their chaps with tassels on the handlebars, leather dungarees, dodgy little leather hats, bushy moustaches...

American motorcycle riders, recently:

LOL

Nah... I don't think there's actually an obsession on either side of the pond with any specific type or style of bike. Horses for courses... Some folk just prefer sports bikes, others like cruisers. Many like both and given the opportunity would have one of each. Typically though, the weather in the UK means a bike with a fairing is preferred, and many of them tend to be streamlined and have a high power-to-weight ratio.

 

[taff]

Love RSV4's.. going to get rid of the huuuuge end can?

 

[Samantha]

why do you brits love those goddamn crotch rockets so much?

Because we have some great twisty roads where you can have fun on something that handles. Get off the freeways and occasionally you can find a road in the US where you can enjoy a fine handling machine.

However given what most of your roads are like, I can understand straight line/comfort/pose stuff is more suitable.

I love sports bikes, but given my skill (not very) - I used to ride more 'easy rider' or 'street' bikes as they are easier.

 

[rockmeister]

you need one of these


SO nearly bought one of these today at the local auctions...went for £650

 

[avinunca1]

'running out of breath at 9500 rpm' - bloody hell what do you rev to then? Will the Aprilia rev that fast without valve bounce? Glad you are enjoying the new bike.

 

[legzr1]

Love RSV4's.. going to get rid of the huuuuge end can?

Once the bank balance recovers - got my eye on a carbon Akra but apparently they need the race ECU fitting at the same time.

As if the Akra isn't expensive enough!

One thing's for sure - I won't be fitting it for extra noise - in gear, this thing is 'fruity' (a flapper valve closes in neutral to pass whatever noise limits are required) but I now understand how these bikes are failing ride-by tests at track days :-(

'running out of breath at 9500 rpm' - bloody hell what do you rev to then? Will the Aprilia rev that fast without valve bounce? Glad you are enjoying the new bike.

Most recent multi-cylinder bikes rev to around 13 - 15,000 rpm (although the last 1000 rpm is usually just over-rev as power is starting to tail off) - 9500rpm is top of the midrange!

No valve bounce - Ti valve heads and stems with stiff stainless springs.

 

[Alex A]

Superb :^

I haven't had the pleasure of riding an RSV4 but I have ridden the Tuono V4R APRC. The engine was magnificent, the TC was unobtrusive but effective, and and handling effortless. Easily the most enjoyable of the 1000cc 4 pot machines. Enjoy!

 

[XJC]

I'm not going to dis' that bike 'cos' it's stonkin'

If you're 6' 4' then your knees are keepin' your ears warm.

My Riding is now somewhat different.

Have fun.

X.

 

[legzr1]

Superb :^ I haven't had the pleasure of riding an RSV4 but I have ridden the Tuono V4R APRC. The engine was magnificent, the TC was unobtrusive but effective, and and handling effortless. Easily the most enjoyable of the 1000cc 4 pot machines. Enjoy!

The T4R was on my radar but I'm a sucker for bling (and refuse to admit I'm too old for these kind of bikes...).

Bumped into a mate at a bike meet on Sunday - I'd heard he'd bought a T4R aprc and had a bit of an off a few months ago.

Well, here's a tale of READ THE FOOKING MANUAL before operating the machine...

He's a bit a wheelie merchant but couldn't 'get it up' so to speak so off he trundles into the TC, anti-wheelie, fuel mapping options on the dash.

Two minutes later, all sorted - anti-wheelie to zero, fun to come.

He pulls out of carpark, 20mph, gives it a handful as normal (expecting to see the TC activation light up the dash and the bike to shoot off like it's got a rocket up it's arse which is the norm) and...

...he's launched 25 feet into the air landing heavily and breaking his shoulder, humerus and collar bone.

Off work for 5 months and only just got back on the bike.

The reason?

What he thought he was turning to zero wasn't anti-wheelie, it was traction control (which he'd quickly learned to lean on and rely on).

Ouch.

Turned all mine up to 8 ;-)

There was a gorgeous RC30 turned up - well used, not a collectors waste-of-bike and still looked the part - I was going to try and get a pic of both bikes together (some sort of V4 saddo homage) but too busy nattering like an old woman and forgot all about it.

Beautiful machines.

If you're 6' 4' then your knees are keepin' your ears warm.

I'm under no illusions - I look a fool riding any sports bike this side of an '89 Exup.

Just with this particular specimen it's edging on the side of comedy!

No worries, it's still more comfortable than my last couple of bikes and feels almost as comfy as an 08 ZX10R (which were good for the less vertically challenged)

 

[XJC]

There's a lot to be said for a frog on a log!

Rip it up.

X.

 

[meridian man]

I thought the S1000RR was meant to be the top dog in motor bikes. It looks savage.

 

[legzr1]

I thought the S1000RR was meant to be the top dog in motor bikes. It looks savage.

In all measurable ways it's either best of class or as close as makes no difference (even low to mid range pull is exceptional for something that revs to 14,000 rpm and kicks like a mule from 9000 rpm).

Thing is, it's all a bit 'dull' - too good, too efficient, too bloody fast. A bike that is better than 99.99 % of riders out there (definitely me included) - it truly is a bike that makes little sense this side of 150mph (and the speed it gets to that figure is unbelievable - owners of fast cars and pre- 2005 superbikes will not comprehend the acceleration).

The 'prila is from Italy.

From the factory it runs lean, needs setting up correctly (bazzaz or Power Commander) and is a bitch below 3000rpm.

It is not as quick as the S1000 in a straight line, flat out.

But, and this is the whole point for me - it works over a massive speed range, pulls from 4,000 rpm (proper urge, not just making noises) and feels alive.

It makes noises, backfires like a mini with a cherrybomb on QS assisted upshifts, farts and bangs on the over run and sounds like a Lancaster bomber coming in to land.

I'm not going to use the word 'soul' (that is the preserve of Ducati and other Italian V-twins and is a way for owners to explain away their unfinished motorcycles ) but it feels like you 'ride' this bike, you're part of it and the petrol tank makes a noise like a child refusing to go to bed on a school night when you garage it after a rideout (the bike, not the kid...).

You are part of it for good or bad - The S1000rr always felt like an accurate, pinpoint missile that you simply 'programmed' and hung on for dear life.

I'll always look back at my years with the Kraut Missile with a smile - 3rd gear, 7000 rpm, throttle wide open and hang on - impossible not to to shout FUCK! the first few times and it's a feeling everyone should experience - but the Aprilia - Wow, 500 miles up and due it's first service and I'm so pleased I bought it.

If the S1000 was a car it would be a V10 M5 with the dash and gadgets from a GT-R.

The 'prilla would be a 458 (well, it's half a 2 litre V8 ;-) ) - slower on paper, slower at the track and slower at the drag strip - but the way it does it's 'thing'... - nice.