Is everything so bad?

[VFN]

Hi!
I am quite new here and i'd like you give me some advice:-)
I'm in love with RSV1000R and i was going to buy one untill reading this forum. But now i have some doubts. With all these threads about faulty swingarm, clutch, link plate, electric etc....is it really so bad? I was going to buy RSV1000R 2005 new, and as it costs quite i dont want to have any problems with the bike


ps: does swingarm, clutch, linkplates refers only to the USA models?

[kwagga]

VFN,

Let me make it as easy as possible for you. All parts (clutch, brake and swing arm) are fixed by new parts (04 & some 05 machines) and don't let anyone else tell you different.

I have a very early 04 bike and never had issues with the swing arm; mine was replaced 3 weeks ago out of the warranty period!! I don't know of a single instance where it failed worldwide. Some crack and some don't.

Not all clutches/rear brakes give hassles, however these items are also replaced under warranty, again mine was replaced out of warranty period. Fixed - no problem.

The rest of the “problems” you might have read I believe to be once off bad luck, bad maintenance or DIY jobs gone south!! If this was such a bad bike why is it still on the roads? The Americans in general are lawsuit specialist, and I have not seen anything which tells me something.

Make sure you get a well know approved dealership and all your problems will go away!!! The Mille is a great machine full stop!!! In fact buy 2 if you can.

Cheers

[Jack_RSV]

VFN

I received an Aprilia's letter in which my serial number swingarm needed to be replaced....that's it....and now i'm 7 months out of the warranty period!!! Don't worry....industries problems!!! I think the Aprilia (with the capital A) is an Aprilia. It's different from the beginning to the end!!!

Cheers.

Jack

[VFN]

Thanks for replays,

Today i asked my dealer about these problems and he said that he doesnt have any information regarding these faults, and he havent recived any info from Aprilia either.
So, can anyone give me serial numbers of the defected parts etc, so that i could check it

[wolly]

When you have warranty problems with aprilia, over here in Holland you will have to be very very very very patient.
I did have to wait 3 months for a turn signal switch. I'm still waiting (over 1 year !) for my clutch replacement. And I'm waiting for over 2 months for new wheels because the paint is falling off. In the end they will probably fix it but it takes them very long.
I think that is aprilia's biggest problem, not the bike itself.
I don't know if my next bike will be an aprilia. I like the bike but I hate the aftersales service.


Rob

[dizzy]

The problem with a lot of aprilia dealers is half of them dont know what they are doing. some dont even know how to make a warranty claim and wouldnt know a spanner if it hit them in the head. Others just dont care about anything other than selling bikes, as soon as they have your money you become irrelevant to them. Find a dealer that is a genuine fan or aprilia motorcycles himself - as a dealer who likes what he sells will usually give good aftersales service.

The rsv is an immense peice of kit, as far as twins go it has to be the best on the market. Get yourself a good dealer and you shouldnt have trouble obtaining parts, making warranty claims or getting help and advice on looking after the bike. Dont let the crypt storys on here lead you astray, as such problems like the swingarm cracking has only happened to a handful of bikes and isnt as worrying as it sounds. Most new models from any manufacturer have teething problems and manufacturers will make a recall to fix the faults.

Sp1's have bad fuelling and a honda badge, ducatis fall apart and cost more than a small family car to service. Buy an aprilia - you know it makes sense

[john68]

I just look at my 04 factory like a beautiful italian woman..........great looks,goes great..........just sometimes a bit moody,but once on her all is forgiven.

[Johnny in Oz]

I've just picked up my (almost) 2 year old Factory after its 20,000kms service. My initial impression was how the bike feels better than ever - and I really had nothing to complain about anyway. Sure there's been some teething problems along the way (including all of the "problems" raised on this forum) but I honestly don't recall anything that takes away from the pure pleasure I get from this bike.

I usually turn bikes over every couple of years or so and test as many new models as I can. Lately, every time I get back on the Factory I get a big grin on my face and think to myself "now this is a bike!"

Don't get me wrong, I agree that the Aprilia network and after-sales service is patchy, but that's a function of the market, not the bike, and markets change over time. Heck I just had the bike serviced by a dealer I previously had nothing good to say about and have re-kindled a relationship which is looking good.

Would I buy another Aprilia? Well that's a different question altogether, but I can honestly say that I'm glad I bought the factory in the first place and would do again in a heartbeat if I had my time over.

FWIW.

John

[blowout]

I can't undersatand the wait for parts. I've had everything replaced on mine, and the longest I've had to wait was 4 weeks for an indicator switch. If we can get these parts in Australia in that time, surely in Europe there is no excuse for waiting any longer.

[Rusnak_322]

I don't think that he is having problems with getting parts, it is more likely that he is having problems with getting the parts replaced under warrantee. They have to go through an approval process first.
It also sounds like he is not raising as much of a stink as I would.

eddie

[derrickhackman]

I think prespective is part of the issue with these bikes. Here is why.

An I-4 jap bike (Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki) have all and more power and excellent handling and therefore are compared to the Aprilia in almost every respect (parts availability, power, weight, ride, sound ). Would you make the same comparison between a suped-up Honda Civic with a fart-can exhaust, ball-bearing turbo, and a NOS kit with a Lamborghini Gallardo? Sure you can go down to the corner import shop and get al the stuff you need for the Civic, but you can't with the Lambo. Sure my comparison is a little extreme but you have to remember we own fairly rare, in the States. bikes. Further, the company has had issues in the last year which throws a kink in the line.

If you want the Civic then get the Civic, if you want the Lambo then get the Lambo but know what you are getting yourself into and for heavens sake appreciate the bike for what it is ... far more than some I-4 jap bike (which most likely will out perform the Ape).

[muppet]

Same here, have always got my warranty stuff turned around in a couple of weeks. The longest I had to wait was 6 weeks for the swingarm (no faults on mine anyway so not really bothered).

The bikes are generally great and well made, with a couple of daft but fixable issues.

The biggest issue seems to be that aprilia appear to be willing to let anyone set up a franchise but the manufacturer follow up on quality and customer service seems to be 0.

Work in the motor trade myself and if we fall down on our CS (customer service) scores we now get cash taken of us by the manufacturer...

Theres nothing more sure than some serious financial penalties to make sure people take note.

Not saying we always get it right, and our "high end" German products have a fair amount of issues throughout the range (as do all manufacturers, my experience being with Merc, BMW, Audi, Porsche & Ferrari). But at least we're made to take customers seriously.

So don't fret too much about the bike, but do a bit of research on your local dealers and try to find a recommended one.

[VFN]

Same here, have always got my warranty stuff turned
So don't fret too much about the bike, but do a bit of research on your local dealers and try to find a recommended one.

The biggest problem is ---- there is only ONE official Aprilia dealer in my country
So, i dont have a choice

[wolly]

The biggest problem is ---- there is only ONE official Aprilia dealer in my country
So, i dont have a choice

Maybe you're lucky and it is a very good one.

[Felix Da Cat]

As you can tell, most of the guys are positive and realistic at the same time. It is a great bike to own. I have had my share of problems, but now with 62,000km on the clock, I can you tell she is still a dream to ride.

There are a lot of great bikes on the market, and whichever you choose, you can't really go wrong, it all boils down to personal choice.

Would I buy another Aprilia, most probably, even though I don't consider myself totally brand blind. Aprilias are a pleasure to ride and loads of fun.

It's your money and your call, but I would say go for it...