Please Guide Me!? 2007 SXV 450 Reliability

[-ftp-]

I will tell you up front I dont know shit about aprilia's in general. I am just coming off a Ducati Monster, before that all R1's and Japanese bikes.

I am looking for a nice looking, reliable supermoto / motard that is ok for my commute to work. It is a 50 mile round trip per day, with 40 of it on highway.

I found a really nice 2007 SXV 4.5 (thats what he has it listed as I am assuming its a 450) with 2700 miles on it. He said the engine failed at 1400 miles but was covered under warranty due to some seal. (this is what he said) So they rebuilt it from the bottom up.

I am just wondering if this bike is suitable for commuting with, I know in town this thing will be super fun.

Please help, and sorry for the noob question.

[gromm415]

nice looking..... yes. reliable..... mine has been. commuter...... not so much.

[\/va/\twisted]

For commuting there are better bikes. the sxv's are pretty high maintenance, although great bikes overall. i usually take mine out after work and weekends for a nice hard workout on backroads and mountain twisties, although i do occasionally ride it to work...but i wouldnt run it as a commuter everyday. from what i have gathered, it can actually be worse on the motor then constantly being hard on it....

but i'm no expert, i'll let them chime in on this point, whatever way you decide to go, good luck!

[fredgreen]

These bikes are not high maintenance. Own a Honda or a Ktm 250-450f then you have high maintenance. These engines are bulletproof if you treat them good. Change oil, air cleaner a lot and ride the ass off them.

[lo-fi]

These bikes are not high maintenance. Own a Honda or a Ktm 250-450f then you have high maintenance. These engines are bulletproof if you treat them good. Change oil, air cleaner a lot and ride the ass off them.

I hear what you are saying, but if its a 50mile round trip (add in a bit for weekend fun) then he will be changing the oil almost once a week. I love my bike but It really would be a shame to use a SXV as a commuter, and fairly uncomfortable too.

[\/va/\twisted]

These bikes are not high maintenance. Own a Honda or a Ktm 250-450f then you have high maintenance. These engines are bulletproof if you treat them good. Change oil, air cleaner a lot and ride the ass off them.

i didnt mean high maint. as a negative....yes, they are GREAT motors like you said "if you treat them good" <--- high maint part....its not hard to keep up with and do if you are willing to do it....but if you do many miles a day, for 5 work days a week *and then ride it for fun on the weekends* it could require more frequent TLC - thats all i meant by it

[nycphotography]

I hear what you are saying, but if its a 50mile round trip (add in a bit for weekend fun) then he will be changing the oil almost once a week. I love my bike but It really would be a shame to use a SXV as a commuter, and fairly uncomfortable too.

I actually read past the first page of the manual... and (at least for my '10) it says 300mi for the FIRST service, and 3000km (or 1850 mi) for each ADDITIONAL oil change. Page 202, in Chapter 7.

So it's actually closer to 2000 miles, not every 300 mi like people here keep saying.

[rocketnz]

People like to change there oil. some claim 300km some claim 500, some do 1000km. depends on how you ride, and your enviroment. just keep an eye on your oil when you drop it like any other mechanical engine, you will get to know how you need to do your oil changes.

the main thing to note, is that due care is required.

[lo-fi]

I actually read past the first page of the manual... and (at least for my '10) it says 300mi for the FIRST service, and 3000km (or 1850 mi) for each ADDITIONAL oil change. Page 202, in Chapter 7.

So it's actually closer to 2000 miles, not every 300 mi like people here keep saying.

Best of luck to you doing 2000 mile changes. the manual also tells you how to change the oil incorrectly! Although they have probably fixed that by now.

Maybe the 2010's are a bit different.

Each to their own 15hrs or 500km's on the engine oil for me. Gearbox can probably go 1000km's

[amauri]

I've had two customers in the past who have been changing the oil at or near the recommended interval.

One was a 08 SXV450 that changed oil every 1,500 miles, brought the bike in for a new top end at 10,000 miles.

The other was a 07 SXV550 with the original orange sealant motor, doing oil changes every 1800 miles. Total 5,000+ miles on the odometer, running great and burning little to no oil.
Funny thing is that this customer did not know about this forum.

There are a few trouble free bikes out there.

[i-Zapp]

... virtually every motorcycle manufacturer requires their factory fill oils to demonstrate adequate protection against wear and deposits resulting from operation at WOT at max engine speed for 100+ hours without oil change (just top ups). With common sump crankcases the trans gears occasionally get pitted due the extreme stress/temperature/contamination, but most test engines would pass as barely ridden. On non-synthetic mineral based oil no less. (disclaimer: assumes clean air filtration to the engine)

having said that i happen to change my oil much more frequently than that (and rarely ride more than a few seconds at wot!) mostly because it just makes me "feel better". but i just can't see why these aprilia bikes should require anything more frequent than once a year or every 3k miles or be any different that any other bike.