The RSV4 is a sexy bish. I'd go with the Ape before I went to the new R1, just based on looks. The RSV4 is supposed to have lighter steering from the factory. I've not ridden one so no comment on anything I can's personally attest to.

 

The 09+ R1 is heavy but so is the RSV4, they're both around 470+ lbs wet; but the RSV4R handles like a 600 according to my friend who owned a RSV4r, he also rode my 09 R1. Torque and feel of the engine is suppose to be very similar. I think with the money you save on the R1 you can get it to handle like the RSV4r. So it really depends on how you look at it.

Do you want a bike that handles pretty good off the showroom floor and requires little upgrade to be trackable? Then get the RSV4

Or do you want a bike that is cheaper and you want to upgrade the parts yourself and get higher end parts? Get the R1.

If you're just going to commute, get the R1, if you're going to do any kind of twiesties, then base your decision on the choices up top. Otherwise get whatever you lust after.

 

I've had 2 Aprilias (RSVR Factory & Tuono), but both were 990 v-twins...and that's why I liked them. Still, if you don't have a good dealer with good service people to work on the Ape, run away fast! I'm lucky in that there are 3 decent dealers within a 3 hour driving radius of me.

When I bought my 09 R1, the RSV4 was still real new and real expensive. I would also only be interested in the "Factory" model with the upgraded goodies, which makes it even more expensive.

I don't race or do track days, but I do ride hard and fast in the twisties (I also don't commute or ride around the city). I love my 09 R1 for how I ride. The engine is amazing. I always hear about the weight...WTF? It may be a few pounds heavier than some, but it's a few pounds lighter than some. Honestly, I don't notice it one bit. It just rides good, fast, and has all the power (and more!) that I'll ever need. I'm not looking to go GP racing, so it works great for me.

My advice? Ride them both and decide which one does 80% of what you want/need the best. The other 20%? Us mere mortals don't ride good enough to worry about it.

 

You don't see many RSV4's out on the roads so it would definitely be nice to own one of those.
+1 to test riding them both and seeing which one feels better.

 

Thanks for the response so far. It's going to be hard to test ride the rsv4 since I don't know anyone that has one. The bike will be for daily ridingand track. If the rsv rides like a 600 I might not enjoy it because the cbr1k rides like a 600 and I didn't enjoy it much at the track just didn't feel right for me. I'll go sit on the r1 again since my scapula is almost healed. And buckle that's another factor I don't know any shops near me that sell or service aprilla near me in Illinois.

 

Around where in IL? I know a guy in a NW suburb of Chicago that services them. He used to be a dealer for them too.

 

Grayslake, il

 

If you're that small, why get a liter?

07+ 600rr

 

I'm small but I wouldn't buy a 600rr it's riding position is uncomfortable. Plus I've been riding the r6 for six yeArs before I crashed this year and it's really not fun shifting in stop and go commUtes.

 

RSV4.

i wanted one instead of my duc, but couldnt see spending $18k on a bike. lol.

 

Oh, another note...what if you need warranty work? I had to take my Ape(s) in a few times for warranty work and once for a recall (swingarm replacement...it was free). Just another consideration for dealer support.

Check out this site for everything you ever wanted to know about Aprilia (sponsored by the best Aprilia dealer in the country - AF1 in New Braunfels, TX):

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/

 

wait a couple years for the rsv price to come down from space.

 

if you think the 09 sounds good with a set of pipes wait til you hear the RSV4 with a slip on....
If you can afford it the ape will put a smile on your face, if not the 09 is still a great bike

 

if you think the 09 sounds good with a set of pipes wait til you hear the RSV4 with a slip on....

:fact

Heard one at the track - one sexy sounding bike.

 

My friends RSV4......

:boobies:boobies






More sound clips at http://www.austinracing.info/



.

 

My friends RSV4......


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZqa4vEti-4 :boobies:boobies






More sound clips at http://www.austinracing.info/



.

Oh hell yes!!! :rock

 

that is ear porn :boobies

 

Get the prilia :thumbup

 

Rsv4 ftw!!!!

 

I've never ridden the R6, but I've ridden the 600rr. I really like the bike. It handles awesome with a smooth power delivery. I'm 5'10 and I thought it was a comfortable bike to ride. RSV looks sexy as hell IMO.

 

get the RSV4
I used to work at an Aprillia dealer and rode our demo and it was amazing....handled like a 600...felt small like a 600 had massive amounts of power and torque. Sounds better than any jap bike build quality is crazy.

Youd take an RSV4 any day over a jap bike just do it

Even the RSV4 without the ohlins is an amazing machine better suited for the road than the track focused Factory

 

I have them both, but if I could only have one bike it would be the R1. I do mostly street riding and i find that the R1 haves better wind protection, the weights are the same, but the R1 feels a little bite more stable in the corner. The RSV4 motor does pull pretty hard which i love, but its over kill for the street. The parts for the Aprilia are way more expense. The R1 exhaust had to go, it gets really warm in the summer. I would post them side by side but i dont know how if i figure it out i will.

 

I have them both, but if I could only have one bike it would be the R1. I do mostly street riding and i find that the R1 haves better wind protection, the weights are the same, but the R1 feels a little bite more stable in the corner. The RSV4 motor does pull pretty hard which i love, but its over kill for the street. The parts for the Aprilia are way more expense. The R1 exhaust had to go also it gets really warm in the summer. I would post them side by side but i dont know how if i figure it out i will.

Thank you for the response. Have you taken the rsv to the track? There really isn't much twisties up in northern il unless I go to Wisconsin or galena or south. I'm wondering how it handles at the track on the corners. Off the showroom I noticed the suspension on the r1 needs a tuning because it tends to dip in the corners alot unless that's just my friends r1 feels. I usually don't ride to hard on the streets. However as I stated before this would be for street and track until I start working on the trackbike.

 

rsv4r factory

 

Winner. I'd take my 09 over the RSV4R, but the Factory model hmmm if I had the money I'd take it. Honestly you could make a much better 09+ R1 with aftermarket parts by the time you get to the base Aprilia's price. Both cool bikes, but I think for this style of bike a few mods to the R1 would take you where you want to go. That, and I like the look of the R1 better, still (not a fan of the 3 light front on the RSV4...love the front on the RSV1000R, though).

 

I have ridden both. I have the R1 because I buy a bike to ride on the street and then turn it into a race bike 1-2 years later. The availability of parts and support for a race version of each bike is VASTLY different. Graves Yamaha has a ton of parts and support that make a REAL difference and turn the R1 into an amazing machine.

I think the RSV4 was a better bike as delivered from the showroom but after some things are changed on the R1 the game over.

Now if there were a ton of parts and support for the RSV4 I would get that. It really depends on what you plan to do with it. The RSV4 is more unique and certainly feels lights and works VERY well.....I am certainly digging the new APRC version of the RSV4!

Tough decision.

 

Well i have also ridden both and love the rsv4 i am thinking of buying one myself as we just had one traded in only 600 miles and just had a brand new engine fitted (he traded for the rsv4arpc).

The only thing that puts me of the rsv4 is the fuel consumption i kid you not you can get as little as 9mpg in track mode and also around 70-80 miles before running out and fuel in the uk is at an all time high.

If i lived in the states with your fuel prices it would be a no brainer rsv4 all the way.

 

If i had the opportunity (money) to buy the RSV4 as a second bike, I would do it. But not sure if I would buy it as my only bike to beat on every day, plus commute on it.
I think the Japanese bikes are better at no fuss daily use.

Plus the proximity to a good dealer is important, expecially when playing with those Italian bikes. The saying, "experiencing the whole Italian ownership experience" is very true...I know from first hand experience...I waited for a month for a water pump to reach North America for my Brutale 910R.

 

with that said, i think aprilia's dealer network is probably stronger than MV Agusta for support purposes.

But i did have a RSV1000R Factory, where I had to bleed the clutch every 2 weeks and the rear brake would never stop the bike. When we complained about it...the answer was...that's just the way it is.

But AF1 is an excellent resource!

 

Thanks for the feed backs. Even though its making it harder to decide between both bikes it's the information that's useful to me. Hearing about the gas guzzling is a huge turn off even if the gas prices are low in the us. I also read up on the rsv forums someone linked on page 1 very useful information. Does aprillas usually have alot of issues? Meaning is it going to be in the shop alot more than I'll be able to ride it? Lol

 

I think the R1 looks much better.