New (to me) V4

[m9rko]

I've lusted after one of these bikes ever since I first heard one, many years ago. Finally my time has come, put a deposit on this today and pick her up in a few days. She's a 2009 Factory (pre APRC). The plan is to use her on the road until May, and then convert into a full time track bike. Excited doesn't cover it!

[m9rko]

R1 Dave said:

This was mine. Make sure you get yourself a Race Ecu; it transforms it. I had an AR can like yours to begin with and found that it didn't run that well; ran far better with the Akra. Enjoy!

It has the race ECU already An acky EVO 2 will replace the one thats on it, but it'll need to wait a while before funds allow it!

Oh... My last bike was an RSV 1000 Factory which I owned and spannered myself for 4 years... So hopefully there'll be no surprises with regards to the Italian build quality!

Edited by m9rko on Monday 23 January 20:28

[m9rko]

Birky_41 said:

Exactly what I want as my next track bike. If you go on the Aprilia forum you can retro fit the electronics package although it does require a bit of brain work

I only say this as I have the 1100 version and it's the only bike I've owned that I really appreciate the electronics due to its sheer mid range punch

I knew the APRC quickshifter plugged in with a bit of fiddling, didn't know about the rest. On the immediate list is rearsets, HM quickshift, clip ons, QAT, Brembo RCS 19 and some race fairings, a few other bits... that should see me through this year!

[m9rko]

R1 Dave said:

Excellent news!

At some point one of your mirrors will snap off at the hinge; when it does get some of the latest style ones, they're a work of art and bolt straight on

Road kit will stay on until April / May and then get sold, she'll be full time track after that

[m9rko]

R1 Dave said:

Re QS, get the Seamless Shift, on the V4 its waaay smoother than the standard Plus. Brakes are excellent with a set of Brembo pads (I had the SC but mine was a road bike).

The seamless is also a goooood chunk more cash... but I'll take that on board. I had the rcs 19 master cylinder on my old track bike and it was just superb, unbelievable braking power. Definitely want another.

[m9rko]

moto_traxport said:

Never understand why people do that.

I would keep the road kit while you own the bike as it gives you far more options about future use and how the is shifted on. A few bubble wrapped fairing panels, mirrors, indicators etc don't take up that much room in a loft.

Something quite nice about getting them back to road spec after 5 years of tracking them.

Did the exact same thing with my last bike, no regrets. It helps raise cash to put towards other parts. I've no interest in riding this on the road once it goes on the track so there's no point in the bodywork sitting gathering dust

[m9rko]

R1 Dave said:

m9rko said:

R1 Dave said:

Re QS, get the Seamless Shift, on the V4 its waaay smoother than the standard Plus. Brakes are excellent with a set of Brembo pads (I had the SC but mine was a road bike).

The seamless is also a goooood chunk more cash... but I'll take that on board. I had the rcs 19 master cylinder on my old track bike and it was just superb, unbelievable braking power. Definitely want another.

I got mine on eBay. RSV4 bits come up daily. I'd just bought an HM Plus, was a bit disappointed with the shift so when an SS came up at a good price I snapped it up. It's worth the extra cash IMHO and that's a view supported by others on the forums.

Just checked the ss out, it's not as bad as I thought. I think I was looking at the GP which is way more money. SS it is then!

[m9rko]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Congratulations, I fkn love RSV's

Cheers BN. I can't bloody wait to try it

[m9rko]

R1 Dave - might you have some base kill time settings for the HM SS to hand?

[m9rko]

Renn Sport said:

That bike is serious badness. I really want a RSV4R or new R1 for the track.

Maybe next year.

Update the thread in May when you have stripped it and made it ready for track.

So what fairings you going to run? Colours?
Are you adding any other bits?

Will that exhaust pass 98db at Donnington?

To be honest, all the mods will be done immediately (before Spring arrives), the last thing to go on will be the track bodywork. I don't normally ride on the road, but the cost of the bike plus all the bits means I have to sacrafice at least 1, maybe 2 months of trackdays to make up the deficit. Hence riding her on the road until May. New fairings will probably be plain gloss black to keep costs down (not sure if I'll paint it myself, I've done it before with pretty good results but it's a pain in the ass). I'm thinking Cruciata fairings at the moment.

The exhaust won't have a chance of passing 98db! But up here at Knockhill they don't noise test. For my first venture out of Scotland I'll pick a noisy day to be on the safe side.

[m9rko]

R1 Dave said:

m9rko said:

R1 Dave - might you have some base kill time settings for the HM SS to hand?

It was a while back but I think I set it to 55ms. Can't be 100% tho. I know it was just below the recommended kill time.

Cool, thanks

[m9rko]

Yeah I remember that! I'd not long passed my test, think I went and did the loop once more that day

[m9rko]

She's here! And already with a new exhaust, much prefer this to the AR. Stopped off at Aprilia Performance (the BEST place for your Aprilia bar none) for a check over. This bike has been main dealer serviced all it's life, and it shows: copious amounts of gasket sealant used everywhere (in places it shouldn't be, they even glued the airbox to the throttle bodies with the stuff), and too much of the wrong stuff where it should be. Various sensors and clips left unattached and dangling around. Oil pretty filthy. However she now has a clean bill of health. Can chain tensioners are a bit noisy but apparently, perfectly safe.

Valve clearances done
Gearbox removed and inspected
Lock nut behind stator checked (Aprilia like to forget to loctite these)
Oil & filter changed




Time to start modding!!

[m9rko]

TimmyWimmyWoo said:

Can I be so rude as to ask how much the valve clearance service was? These are in my head as my dream next bike but have no idea what the service costs are like. Presumably similar to Ducati…

Roughly £300 for a valve check and oil service. It will be more if any valves are out. I imagine it will be a lot more at a main dealer.

[m9rko]

Cheers guys

RossB, I just bought 15-42 gearing too

[m9rko]

I think I've watched just about every v4 video now... Only thing that's on par is the new R1's I reckon. Such an amazing noise!

[m9rko]

Maxds said:

Out of interest what's this like for insurance? Mate of mine had a V4 Tuono and his providers were very insistent that it was an APRC version, cos the ones without were getting written off constantly.

It was only marginally more than the RSV 1000 R Factory it replaced

[m9rko]

She cleans up well...





Rear linkage needs stripped down and the bearings checked, after that it's all fun stuff (fitting new parts)

Someone on here mentioned being 5'8" and worried about seat height... They are tiny bikes, way smaller than my old RSV, it's tall people that don't get on with them

Edited by m9rko on Sunday 29th January 18:57

[m9rko]

R1 Dave said:

Be worthwhile replacing those Aprilia quick release coolant hose clips with regular jubilee clips mate, especially if you're tracking it; they're very prone to leaks, I had a couple go whilst I owned mine and it's quite common apparently.

Good to know, thanks for the tip!

[m9rko]

It's definitely small compared to the old RSV's, I'm on tip toes stationary on those. Hopefully none of that stuff leaky / wanring light stuff! My old Aprilia was 100% reliable, can't see why this would be any different...