She is alive!

[2fast2cool]

First, let me start by publicly apologizing to my RSV Mille for doubting her in the beginning. I had a post while back when I just bought her and expressed my concern over sluggishness and lack of punch. This was during break-in and under 6,000 rpm.
Now at over 700 miles and reaching 8-9,000 rpm, I am so happy that SHE IS ALIVE!!! It is like a different bike altogether. The dealer took the restrictor out, changed the air filter to EVO and with dual Arrows I am flying! Awesome response and plenty of torque, I am in heaven!
Thanks to all who told me to be patient and not to doubt her - hopefully she will forgive me!
<img src="http://www.itsouls.com/Aprilia/ApriliaMille-3.jpg" style="border:0;"/>

[King Atlas]

Just had my 600 mi service yesterday and all the same mods ('cept I got the Aprilia Ti Evo). I couldn't agree more. I was getting worried because I didn't think it could improve so much.

My only worry is that the popping/spitting sound from the pipe on deceleration is much louder now with the new pipe. They said the throttle bodies are in sync and the air/fuel ration is fine. Some friends with twins say it's "normal". I dunno. I don't mind the noise...just want to make sure no harm comes to the bike.

[AV8OR]

I just put the RSC pipe on my bike as well. It also pops and such like you describe. I love the pipe, really brings out the power and sound of a V-twin. Now if I can just keep her on the road!!!

[King Atlas]

What are your thoughts on the popping? Normal?

[Donald M]

You won't believe this but the lower the octane fuel I use the less it pops! I think it burns faster & must make it richer. No pinging so no problem. Try 87 octane.
Don-M

[vp rsvmille]

I think you have your words confused there Donald.

Higher octane means a higher burning rate and hence leaner.

Lower octance means lower burn rate and hence less efficient fuel to gas conversion and hence richer.

If you run too low, then you have more unburnt mixture that doesn't completely expel out the exhaust and hence you get popping/backfire (unburnt fuel detonating in the exhaust extractors again). Sometime the explosion can be quite severe and rip a hole in the muffler.

In my experience, higher octane has eliminated the popping/backfire effect.

Cheers,
VP

[rsvmiller1]

This may spark another long forum discussion on different fuels and octane ratings... but putting in lower octane? I don't know about that?

I don't notice any popping on my bike. Maybe the bike is too new for some of you. Give it some time to fully break-in and give it another couple hundred miles for the bike to loosen up. Ride the piss out of it and then come back and say whether or not your bike runs funny or pops.

The bikes come with a pretty good warranty - don't be afraid to use it if anything breaks.

Just ride it.

[King Atlas]

rsvmiller1, does that mean your pipe made popping sounds when it was new?

[stevehonn]

To add to the conversation, my RSV now has 11,600miles on the clock and I had no popping through the exhaust at all, until it went into the dealers for the 9,300mile service. I discovered a loose spark plug (which didn't look like it had been changed either) and sorting this out has reduced it a great deal but I still get the occasional pop when slowing down around the 3 - 4000rpm mark - throttle bodies out of sync?

Steve

[rsvmiller1]

Dave,

Correct. My bike does not pop under engine braking or even backfire for that matter.

I am familiar, however, with you situation. My friend with an 01 RSVR does have some popping / backfire.

Bottom line - the popping could be any number of multiple things. It's most likely not a harmful effect and I think enjoying the ride is more important than worrying about annoyances.

[Donald M]

I think, if I remember correctly, that a lower octane has a lower flash point than high test but high test, with its higher flash point, could make more power depending on the motor. Sort of like diesel fuel. Not that I think you should run diesel!!!!!(hee hee). So I think that is why the popping stops. Could be wrong. Usually I am as my wife always tells me!!!
Don-M

[BadchildRsv]

Octane number is related to what it takes to get the whole mixture in the cylinder(s) to burn "at once", (I already posted some links to web sites that explained this very well). The higher it is the more difficult it will be for this to happen. BTW it's something that you don't want to happen, it ends up destroying the engine.

It all starts with "I want more power from my engine", it then goes to :

To get more power you need more torque (power = torque * revs), to get more torque you need more pressure in the cylinder(s).

To get more pressure you can (among other things) make sure that you get the pressure at its maximum a few degrees after TDC when the piston starts going down.

Because it takes some time for the flame, started by the spark, to propagate into the whole mixture you have to set the ignition timing to some degrees before TDC so that right after TDC the whole mixture is burning and the pressure will be at its maximum. This is where high octane helps, because even under harder pressure conditions it will not "knock" (burn at once).

Althought it's not octane related you may well think :

"Hey, what about designing the combustion chamber to get the best flame propagation I can ?!"

"What about making sure I get as much air/fuel mixture as I can in the cylinder(s) ?"

"What if the exhaust was helping getting burned gases out of the cylinder by creating a low pressure behind the valve when it opens ?"

"What about making the intake ports as smooth and big as possible and remove these protruding valve guides that hurt the flow ?"

"What about using MPEG to increase my compression ratio ?, nah does not work."


Well welcome to the wonderful world of engine tuning (far away from tuning by adding chrome bits).

That's one of the reasons why I love cars and bikes, endless pleasure trying to masterize the vehicle dynamics and making the engine work at its best. If I only had more money to spend ....

PhM

[King Atlas]

"Bottom line - the popping could be any number of multiple things. It's most likely not a harmful effect and I think enjoying the ride is more important than worrying about annoyances."

I agree that enjoying the ride is the most important thing, but tending to potential problems early on is as important. I was just a little spooked by some people emphatically telling me that popping is absolutely NOT normal and that I should have it checked immediately. The more I hear that damage should not come of it, the better I feel. I just want to take care of my baby, so she can take care of me for many years to come. I LOVE THIS BIKE!!!!

[2fast2cool]

I did not experience any popping whatsoever. Always used the highest octane rating available. Just very stable, smooth and responsive. God, I love this bike so much! And these Arrows sound awesome!

[bubbas929]

i have the rsc can and chip with no popping. however, when i put the full hindle on the fireblade i had popping when i accelerated hard and then let off the throttle. i was told it was normal and nothing to worry about. had it for another 5k miles with NO problems (sold for the rsvr )