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First Question--for street riding, often 2-up through the mountains, doing 250-400miles in one day; is the RSV or the Tuono better suited?
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Tuono, for sure. RSV's seating position is pure repli-rep. Tuono is literally the 03-spec RSV, naked, with superbike bars instead of clip-ons. [drool]
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Just from reading what I can do I understand that the RSV and the Tuono have the same V-twin 1000cc engine? Is the Touno a milder version (less top end, more mid range power)?
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A Tuono is an 03 spec RSV, naked. Same motor, same chassis, same state of tune... Same mods (chips, etc) work on both.
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How are they maintenance wise?
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No more difficult than any Japanese bike.
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Do they tend to brake down a lot?
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NO!!!!
Couple little niggles: They all come stock with slipper clutches, so clutch life isn't quite what you'd expect. Clutch slave cylinders aren't the most bulletproof. Aftermarket ones are available, much better, and lighten effort at the lever. The OEM battery is only 'adequate'.
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Are they hard to work on and get parts for?
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Oil changes are a snap, else is no harder than any other twin. I get my parts as quickly as I did when I had a VFR, except in the rare case when something gets backordered to Italy (happened once to me). Then you're in for a month long wait. Regular maintenance items have NEVER been an issue for me.
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How many miles can you expect before major maintenance (adjusting valves, new coils, clutches, timing chains etc)?
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Scheduled valve checks are at 600 mile (breakin), then earlier bikes have a 10K interval for valve inspection. New bikes have 12K. The motor uses shim-under-bucket valves, just like all Japanese bikes, and it is rare for a bike to need adjusting before 20,000 miles. Mine had it's adjustment cherry popped at 36,000 miles for the exhaust valves on the rear cylinder. Else is still in spec from the factory. Never replaced a coil, or heard of an owner that did. The spark plug caps (wires) would be the first place to look for an ignition issue. There are aftermarket wires available, if you like. My first clutch lasted 18K miles, kinda low. I installed the last new one at 40K, so the second lasted 22. It's slightly different from most bikes in that the last friction plate rides in a second, offset, set of fingers in the basket and that there is a rubber seal in there that should be inspected for flaws. My bike's at 44K now. I've heard of a couple owners who had to replace CCTs, but that is rare. The motor, a Rotax, is quite bulletproof, overbuilt, and quite bulletproof.
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And do you feel the Aprilias are worth the price?
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For Me?? Absolutely. If you're about Horsepower Gained per Dollar Spent, then you should be on a Japanese I4.
One thing I did notice about Aprilias is that they don't do the Honda "feels like a favorite pair of jeans" thing, where you're immediately comfortable even if your technique is off. These bikes do what YOU tell them to, and aren't afraid to let you know when the loose nut behind the triple clamp is the one that needs adjusting. The trade off is that they feel SOO much better when you get it right!
Forza Italia!!!
Scott :smile: