I've yet to ride one and neither have most. If you were planning on full ohlins for the r1, well the main differences between the two bikes are going to be the engine. From what I recall, on the dyno, peak numbers aren't much different.

Are you getting all the extra stuff for free on the Ape? If so, it'd be down to cost for me. If it ends up being cheaper to buy the Ape compared to modding up the R1 then buy the Ape.

 

I have a great relationship with the vendor selling these bikes. They move alot of the aprilia merchandise and have set up a few of these for "racing purposes". With my discount on the bike and parts it's like they are free. Figure by the time I set up my R1 it'll be around the same price.

 

The ape is sex, period. I would buy one, but then i would say i spent alot of money i didnt need to. If it comes out to around 18 OTD then its just as cheep as an R1 modded the way you want. I wont compare the two on performance, as i always think there dumb comparisons since a rider will do better on a bike he feels better on. And the differances are always in tenths of seconds. and i dont race on the street anyway.

I would buy the ape though, cuz like i said its pure titties, beer, va jay jay, and anal with Megan Fox.

but then again the italian bikes always steer away from me because i am afraid i will spend 20 grand for a bike that needs maintenance done all the damn time.

 

Check out the newest issue of "Motor Cyclist" They have a comparison of the 2010 R1 vs the 2010 RSV4R

 

Read the article on a plane trip from Dallas. The comparison is to the RSVR, not the factory. The tests showed that the riders turned fast lap times on the Aprilia soley from a benefit in suspension. The R1 had better and more manageable power for the track, but was severely lacking in suspension. This is where the Ohlins would come in on either bike. They seem to be pretty close to a tie in performance, again which is why I am stuck.

 

looking at your pics......nevermind.

 

+1 haha, its like i mentioned earlier, but its anal with megan fox for one night, against my wife everynight. tempting but damn she cooks good so i think ill stay.

 

Look at all the reasons you got a yamaha.If the aprilia has a lot of character then you will get lots of problems.Dont be fooled into thinking the italians care about you because they dont.The no one else cool facter of euro gear usually has a high cost and its going to be your wallet.

 

I wouldn't trade up the R1 for the Ape, but I would buy it to compliment the R1.

 

oh damn, someone is thinking around here.

 

no question, mod the R1...

megan fox is dumber than a box of nails...

 

dude are u serious? i would drink megan fox's bath water, then go ride the ape.

 

Three off my friends have the RSV.

All of them were R1 owners for a good many years and owned more than one model.
They all loved their R1's but all of them have said that the RSV is special.
Not one of them considered the 09 R1 because the RSV is already very high spec.
No changing this or that but you still can, should you want.
Exclusivity was also a deciding factor.
Anyone can have an R1..! (As they say)

If i didn't love my 05 and have so much time and money in it I would have an RSV factory.

I would keep the LE and sell the 09 etc and have the Factory if I was in a postion to do so.

Just my 02. No flamers please.....:butt.....

 

I would keep the LE and sell the 09 etc and have the Factory if I was in a postion to do so.

If it was an LE, there would be no question about selling it. It would be on my mantle above my fireplace! LOL. Mine is just a 50th paint schemed 06 with a few goodies.

 

if you want a good motor from the factory the rsv4 is a No go!
give a look:
http://www.motorbox.com/Moto/VisteeProvate/Prove_speciali/SuperbikeConfrontoCartagena.html?cnt=12245
however the frame is one of the best on the market cause of the V motor weight displacement ... but the motor really lacks everywhere(it's not "gruntier" than an inliner neither pulls better up in the revs ... I use to ride my buddy rsv4 once a week and the r1 motor pulls better that's what he says too...
however my comparison is between euro bikes ...

 

I've owned a few Aprilias (not the RSV4 though); I've owned a few R1's...

Probably the most money I've ever lost on a bike, and the hardest to sell, were the Aprilias. I don't know if the RSV4 will be the same later. I loved riding both of them (04 RSV1000 Factory & 07 Tuono), but I will never buy another.

Sold my 03 R1 a few years ago in like 2 days. Bought it used, sold it about a year later at break-even. Bought my 09 last September...love it. It's a keeper.

Point? If you can get the Ape at the right price and plan to keep it for a long time...why not? But you might want to keep the 09 R1 too :jump

 

As long as the engine has been out of the Aprilia - do it.

 

Aprilia has recalled the entire motor to fix a longevity issue. This warranty will have been done to the bike before I even sign the paper work.

 

Their both over my head, and nothing alike. But both extremely fun. I'm going to be rude here, as you can see by the pic, but as long as you have one of each... what was the question?

 

If I could have both, then the sky would open and the angels would sing, and everything would be right in the world! Lol. Then this thread would not be needed.

 

I really like Aprilia and they are badass but maintenance can get expensive like a Duc if not more, the R1 is like a chainsaw that you can beat to death :lol

 

Dude, hold on, where you keeping the track bike? You said you can't open the R1 on a track, I understand the small track, so where you gonna open up, on the street? And lastly, if ya gotta ask your mommys permission, maybe you should get a moped. Looking forward to your reply.

 

First off, the street isn't where I open it up. Texas world speed way is the only place around here that is built for 1000cc bikes. Second, it's not about owning 2 bikes, more like 3. Still need a track bike to run around all the other tracks. I would take the RSV4 to track days but I still want something that I can run on the track past 3d gear. Third, if you add up all three it's at least 40 G's not including any major parts. I make good money, but not that good.

 

I have ridden the RSV factory around a track, and I loved it. I can't afford the Factory, but I'm trying to afford the "R". I won't be selling my 06, mostly because I love it, and it's so modified it blows the Aprilia in every way but bottom end drive. But (imho) the Aprilia is special and different, way more so than the 09/10 R1, or the BMW. I want one too and I'll find a way. :yesnod

 

You could just donate the 06 to me!! :crash :lol

 

isnt there a recall on the rsv4s?

 

The exclusivity of the Aprilia makes it an easy decision. At least for me.

I know this is an R1 forum but in all seriousness to pick the R1, you have to have yamaha blue or racing yellow for blood.

 

the exclusivity you see may be there in USA.
here in italy where the bike born nobody looks at aprilia and think that...
cause aprilia got no experience about 4 stroke motor ... the only one they used on their bikes was the rotax on the older rsv and it was a reliability disaster... at the end of the story this is the first 4 stroke motor they produced ...
the same applies to MV ... it completely lost its exclusivity with the new model ... it's 2010 and they still use a dumb 50mm fork...and no radial pump...and they ****ed up the fairing look with ton of openings and the exhaust too.
most of exclusivity comes out from how much you pay for something .that's true most of the times...but sometimes what you pay more it's not the best!

 

A friend of mine had the RSV4 Factory (he somehow managed to total it).

The bike sounds unbelievable. You have to hear it to believe it. Never mind the "sissy" R1 crossplane sound. The highlight is that as soon as you shift into 1st, still clutched, still standing still with one feet on the ground, the sound changed like all the throttle bodies are open! The sound is unbelieable throaty at that point, never came upon such a thing before!

I vote r1 09 for the looks but man the RSV4 is a monster! Its a real race-ready back with all those exotic accessories already on, plus many geometry tweaking (you can even move the motor into different angles to alter geometry!).

The RSV4 will whealy effortsly on 3rd, the bike has so much power you literally cant keep the front end down at the first few shifts!

I dont dig the front fairing, but i really love the back-end! Looks wise the R1 09-10 is the most beatiful bike around though atm. But engine wise its nothing spectacular (imo)

 

tompas actualli the rsv4 has wayyyyyy less power and torque than an r1 2009!
http://www.motorbox.com/Moto/VisteeProvate/Prove_speciali/SuperbikeConfrontoCartagena.html?cnt=12245
and it's one of the most difficult bike to wheelie....in third gear it NEVER comes up by power... in second gear you need to help it!
i use to ride both the bike every weekend on track... so i know the rsv4 it's a little dog when speaking about motor...by the way the sound you hear comes from a butterfly valve in the exhaust that opens once you put the bike on gear... not coming from the throttleblades!
one more thing, the sound you call beautiful becomes a lot annoying while riding it cause it reverberates in your hears ...
after a pair of laps you need hear plugs...

 

Some have touched on the real truth here. Hell, I love all the beasts out there, I want the new BMW. The real comparison has to be made after the Marchesinis, Ohlins, Brembos, etc... are bolted on the R1. Its not the same animal that roles off the showroom floor. Then the line really gets blurred and it does come down to which one you think looks better. Almost.

 

Performance bike has two good articles on the 09 R1 this month you should take a look.

The first is the guy who has had it for the past year as a reader ride. He has been talking smack all year, but in his year end review he does nothing but praise it. Hes done some mods to it and put something like 10 thousand miles on it, so its a little bit more fair reflection. The build quality is what he harps on the most. He also points out how the R1 beats the desmo on the streets, but dont get me wrong I am in no way trying to imply that anyone would pass up a desmo for r1.

the second is a test between the r1 on beemer. He mainly points out that the r1 lost because of the suspension and on off throttle. It was tested as stock, so with a few mods that test probably could of been alot closer.

He mentions that there is nothing special about the bmw motor, just that it seems like the next step up to a natural inline 4. Much like the cbr, with alittle extra on top. He was a huge fan of the electronics though, no surprise there huh.

 

Wow. This has all been great information. I have to agree with Gypsy in that the true comparison is after all the extras are bolted on. The 09 I have is a completely different ride than my 06. There is talk about the grunt of the 09, yet I know that mine has some what of a delay when I take off. My 06 had the same feeling and it took a few extra bolt-ons including dropping a tooth in the front to make it pull in lower rpm. Now it will easily wheelie in 1st & 2nd gear. I am assuming the same mods will have to be made to the new model.

I have not ridden the Aprilia, but will soon get a chance to ride the RSVR (not factory). It will be a fair assesment. I am a bigger guy so suspension has to be modified on any bike I get. The article I read talked about the differences between the 2 bikes ( motorcyclist ) being the usable power. The R1s new motor gave the ability to get on the throttle mid corner which in turn helped it turn faster laps than the RSVR despite having soft suspension.

The ape above the R1 has all kinds of adjustments. I'm just a track day guy, but you have to admit that it's pretty trick to be able to change geometry to the motor, swingarm and triple trees. Like I said, I'm no racer, but the thought of being able to play with the frame that way is sweet and has to count for something.
Still not sure about where I stand yet, but keep the opinions coming. Have had a lot to factor in from reading your posts and the more I can get the better.
Oh yeah, I'm a generous guy, but don't think I'll be GIVING away my 06. It will probably be for sale soon. I'll more than likely put it back to stock and sell all the aftermarket stuff seperate.

 

Ape FTW.

on a side note, im not sure but i thought i heard somewhere that the cross-plane crank of the 09 r1 was designed that way to try and mimmick the feel of a v4. if thats the case, why not just buy the true v4 (not to mention its sexy as hell).

the ape is probably my favorite bike out right now, i think i'd even take it over the all mighty s1000rr...

 

Ape FTW.

on a side note, im not sure but i thought i heard somewhere that the cross-plane crank of the 09 r1 was designed that way to try and mimmick the feel of a v4. if thats the case, why not just buy the true v4 (not to mention its sexy as hell).

The motor on the 09 R1 was built after their MotoGP M1. It is built as a big bang engine like the GP bikes to help with traction while on the throttle. Giving the ability to open the throttle earlier in a turn while leaned over rather than waiting until the bike is upright.

BTW, love the bike in your sig. Had one just like it.