Mid-Life Rider

I posted before about my initial riding impressions of a 2004 Aprilia RSV Factory vs Suzuki SVS). Well, today the Sun Gods smiled just a bit and I took out my brandy new 2007 Factory for its maiden voyage (an entire 68 miles). Here’’s my review.The bike is intimidating as shit for several reasons . . .

• It’’s just drop dead stunning sitting there all black and gold and shinny. Yeah, it’’s supposed to be ridden, but it’’s just so freaking gorgeous. It will never again be this new, this clean, this pristine, this virginal.
• The tires are new and presumably still in their native ball-bearing state.
• The weather has been snotty for the past week, so the roads will be in unknown shape.
• It’’s cold out, which means there’’s the potential for some black ice.
• it’’s a new bike.

Before doing anything I fitted a Gerbing wire to the battery so I can wear heated gear. As it turns out, a good move. It’’s high 30s (f) to low 40s.

The bike gargles and comes to life right away. It fast idles just a bit and then settles in to what is for me a familiar big-twin sound. I’ve had a Ducati and a Suzuki. It’s a similar sound, but different. The folks on the forums call it “brat brat” or “brap brap.” It’s close enough. You can definitely tell there are a lot of mechanical bits in there all waiting semi-patiently to get with it.

Finally I’m sitting on the bike. Feels good. Very compact and thin through the middle. It’s smallish in comparison to my FJR, so there’s definitely a feeling of being perched on top.

The controls are just marvelous, even this new. Clutch pull is smooth, progressive, and light. The transmission is snickety snick. I pull out of the garage and head down the hill. Crap. Where are the pegs? Oh, waaaaaay up there. Getting folded in, particularly given all the kit I have on is a trick and a panic at first.

The weather is still looking crummy in the direction I’m going and I’m not thrilled about that as I motor through town towards the freeway. The mirrors are in the time honored tradition of Italian bikes . . . completely useless. “What’s behind you doesn”t matter.” A bit nerve wracking now that I’ve got .7 miles under the wheels and I’m still in traffic.

I finally squirt up onto the motorway and head out with the intention of finding some back roads. I’m not keen on anything too technical. More interested in running up and down through the gears and banking this way and that.

At speed the bike is rock solid, though there is very little wind protection. I have a double-bubble screen on order as there is simply no way I can get out of the airflow.

Working up and down through the gears, the bike surges along, pulling cleanly from about 1800 rpm. I have no desire to boot it out of respect for the weather, tires, rider, and bike. Five miles in and my initial trepidations are pretty much gone. The priller is a freeway ace, though clearly it will not be my first choice as a big mile eater.

I finally get off the slab an onto secondary roads. The weather is holding but there’s lots of traffic and construction. I was afraid that the bike was going to be dreadfully uncomfortable given the extreme drop of the clip-ons and the longish reach. It’s not cruiser-like, but it’s certainly not a killer either. All in, I’ll be on the bike about 90 minutes and it’s just fine. Nothing went to sleep on me.

About 30 miles in I finally hit some proper back roads with no traffic. I hit the rev limited once (set at 8k for break in) but otherwise don’t show it the spurs. I do find myself gaining confidence as I work the bike between 40 and about 75 . . . keeping an eye peeled for the local constabulary.

Up ahead is a turn marked for 30 mph. I figure I can probably take it at 70 . . . some other time. I set the bike towards the right side of the road (the turn is going left) and move my body down and to the inside of the center line. I’m not exactly hanging off, but I’m headed in that direction.

At what I judge to be the turn-in point I release the pressure on the outside bar. Zooosh. The priller dives across the corner like the corner-carver it is. I’m off the bike more than I need to be and in some danger of heading off the inside of the turn. Yeeeeehaaa. Next time I’ll pick a later turn-in point.

Still wary of the new tires and all the rest, I keep my pace very much in hand . . . no big speeds, no apex clipping. First day, first ride. We’re just having a hello and a cuppa tea here.

A couple of cars up ahead with open road beyond. I don’t even bother to shift down. I’m running at about 4k. I just roll-on and around the cars I go. More buffeting than I’m expecting so I find myself a bit crossed up as I grab hold, try to tuck in, and find that infernal shifter as the limiter light flashes at me. Some yoga will help!

Back on the motorway heading back to town. The Gerbing gear is pumping as it’s cold and raw. The wind is forcing me to stay low as I can on the tank. I do find that I can move around on the bike enough to keep my creaky limbs awake and uncomplaining.

Back home and off the bike . . . crap. My textile gear have been busy attacking the paint on my tank while I was busy riding. I have some miracle fixer stuff from Novus, so I work some into the marks until the tank is back to its shinny black state. Upstairs later I find a film that can be applied to the top of the tank to protect the paint. Also have some grip pads for the side and a full compliment of sliders coming.

So what’s the verdict?

• Well, I got over the intimidation factor pretty quickly. There is no doubt this bike offers a level of performance unlike anything else I’ve ridden. Particularly in the twisty stuff. Having said that, it is a very easy bike to ride at 4/10s. It’’s smooth, planted, and up to the task. It will be tits on the track.
• I’ve done nothing to the suspenders but it feels nearly perfect from the factory. For the street, I may dial out a touch of damping. I haven”t set the sag yet, but I’ll be surprised if it’s not bang on.
• I can’t tell how hard it pulls yet for all the reasons I’ve already recited. But the engine, even with less than 100 miles on it feels stump-strong.
• The ergos are quite closed up, but I didn’t buy the priller to tour on. Importantly, my wrists and shoulders survived just fine.
• It is just stunning to look at. I stopped and snapped a couple of pics. There is a part of me that can’t believe I’m going to run it on the track, but as my wife points out, “it’s just a motorcycle.”

So that’’s what I know so far.

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Tags: Aprilia, RSV1000R Factory, Gerbing, Zero Gravity, Double Bubble, Novus