[sarnali]

Re: Does too.

The RC 51 is the current superbike entry for honda, why can't it spank some upstart eye-tye scooter company?

Could it be that honda's engineering skill died with Soiciro?

Maybe Aprilia will sell them some engines and frames so they can be competitive?

Maybe Baba-san can design a competitive twin for them?

Maybe they can just deny there's a problem, then withdraw from all the class's they can't win at.

 

[sarnali]

Re:Relax young man

You've already reached the dizzying heights of engineering sophistication known only to owners of the VFR, Concours and SV650.

Why waste your time and energy lusting after some Italian slattern when you already own the worlds finest bike.

 

[mwesterl]

When I first saw the prototypes... I thought the bike(s) looked awesome. Now that I see them all dressed up, I'm not so sure. At a quick glance, it looks like a RC51 front end with some '02+ R1 'sharpness' in the bodywork with a VFR-like tail. The graphics try hard, but are still a little bland looking to me. I like the older styles and graphics better. As a whole though, I'd expect the bikes to look a lot better in person.



Tech wise, these things are beautiful...

 

[gniewko]

When I first saw pictures of this bike - from the side - I thought it looked awesome. Then I saw the front view. What the hell were they thinking when they designed the front? There is just too much going on around the headlights, and the ram-air duct is just horrible. Along with the Kawasaki Z1000, this is probably one of the worst-looking front designs on current sportbikes. It looks like it was designed by a committee, and everyone slaped a piece they liked onto the front of the poor motorcycle. Same thing with the paint job - too busy, not classy enough, it just doesn't hold together. Overall I like the shape of the bike, and I do like the rear of it a lot. Except for the atrocious front and paintjob, it looks like it was inspired quite a bit by the MV Augusta F4.



-Gniewko

 

[Abe_Froman]

Re: 2003 Aprilia RSV 1000 R Feedback

Let's not get carried away here......the Aprilia looks good.....for an Aprilia. It doesn't even come close to an R1 (especially the pre-'02 ones.)

 

[21684]

Go ahead and flame me!

I'm sure I'll rile up all you racer boys with this next sentence. Personally the 2004 Buell XB12R and S has way better looks than this Aprilia. At least the Buell shows the motor. The Aprilia looks just like any other crotch rocket for sale except they'll want way too much for it. I'm sure it is a great bike but nothing new in the looks department. If I were inclined to get a race rocket I would research each bike mechanically and find the one with the least plastic that would eventually have to be replaced when it goes down on its side. That would rule out the Aprilia.

 

[12250]

I Really like this thing. I also think it's great that they point out the vast weight savings on the "Factory" model by anodizing the wheels rather than painting them, and by having wheel data engraved rather than embossed. Just think, if you left the covers off the valve stems, it would really be light. Gotta reduce that unsprung weight!

 

[23063]

It's a stunner from the side and rear. But the front reminds me of a Ford Edsel.

 

[12250]

Re: Go ahead and flame me!

I think it all depends on perspective. Many would argue that all cruisers look the same. Valid anaysis of the plastic being something that inevitably will get scratched.

 

[VMan_1]

Re: 2003 Aprilia RSV 1000 R Feedback

I bet you also think a Mustang looks better then a Modena. The R1 is nicely "styled" (especially in the black/silver "paint scheme" - what do you think about the red/black/white one???) but is not a "design" with any significant conceptual ideology. It will not represent the best design of our times 20 years from now. Actually, the 2000 R1 is a better, more complete design, with details that don't overwhelm the bike.

 

[KPaulCook]

I'm wrong.

Ok you make a great point. OK the Aprilia is a great bike.

 

[33421]

Well, not quite as pretty on film as I had hoped, but not bad either. Hopefully it'll be prettier in person. Seems rather derivative (read safe). Aprilia must have been scared off by the Terbleche Ducatis. Lots of complex curves, but the tank and seat seem to have been designed by one guy, and the fairing by another. Speaking of the front fairing, the air runner opening looks like it was inspired by that clitoral looking brain being from the movie Dune. Could have been much simpler. Not sure why the graphics continue to be inspired by web graphics, but what do I know. I was hoping for a downsized engine, but the original engine designer ran off and came up with the KTM 950 twin. Not that you can tell from this post, but I do like the bikes overall execution. I was simply hoping for a truely pivotal machine. They've had plenty of time (if not money).

 

[justaspeedfreak]

Mofo's? Upchuck? I belched and this is what came back up...



Where is the value-add content in this public domain information? Have the MO Peeps added any insightful information, have they done any digging, have they contributed an ounce of additional energy to this PR from Aprilia?



Seems to me our little MO Peeps have lost their way... I didn't pay for PD info. Give me something unique or keep it under your hats...

 

[KPaulCook]

Re: Go ahead and flame me!

Agreed. Cruisers all look the same to me. Ancient design V-Twin, Tank, Fenders, Foot forward controls thats about it for a cruiser.

 

[19616]

Czech It Out

OK, OK, Skoda is Czech, not Russian.

I guess my imagination was writing Czechs my brain couldn't cash.

Right with you there on the Falco. I live about 4 blocks from an Aprilia/Moto Guzzi dealer. What great people--they love bikes in general and also the bikes that they sell. I'd like to buy an Aprilia to take advantage of their closeness and good attitude.

But I just can't deal with having to spend every ride looking at those miserable clocks that look like the corporate consequence of spending all the budget on those cool aluminum frames. "Hey, we can get a great deal on instruments from Lada!"

Your idea of optional clip-on heights is brilliant. Adjustable clip-ons might be too pricey/hard to engineer but what if when you went to the dealer, you could pick your set of clip-ons? I have an R1 (with Helibars--I ordered them the day I bought the bike). If riders could choose I bet not one in five would choose the standard clip-ons on the R1 which are low enough to be sorta like an extension of the front axle. Beautiful cast pieces, though. Much prettier than the Helibars.

 

[Dislodge]

Original Content

At least they've started labelling press releases as such, instead of pretending to have created the content.

Seriously, this is a step in the right direction.

 

[40746]

What you are looking at is 100% of the available info on this bike, the instant that the press embargo ended. We published more, sooner than any other publication on earth. The official press intro won't be for about a month, so until we can get on a bike, what else were you expecting? Imaginary riding impressions? OK. I can do that. "As I flew past Don Canet leaving him in a trail of sparks from my molten Mille pegs . . . "

 

[21684]

High tech my arse

When any of these so proclaimed high tech bikes start running off of fuel sells then I'll agree they are high tech. Until then, all bikes are essentially the same. They burn gas, foot shift and all have disc brake technology. When I can breath or drink the clean exhaust by products then it "is" high tech. Lock yourself in a garage with a running Aprilia or a Harley or any other bike and you'll die of your high tech exhaust fumes. By the way, in-line fours have been around since the 60's and that is pretty old. Just don't give me that high tech jap vs low tech v-twin crapola. If you want to believe that then go ahead.

 

[ConsMillieR]

Re: 2003 Aprilia RSV 1000 R Feedback

Likewise, traded in my 2002 GSX-r 600 for a 02 Mille R and I am completely sold on twins from here on out

 

[ConsMillieR]

Re: 2003 Aprilia RSV 1000 R Feedback

dude the aprilia is twice the bike than the R1, besides you don't have too get a shaved head, pump iron, and a barbed wire tatoo across your bicept to won one, like the retard clan r1 cult. R1=posers for straight line riding