Aprilia SXV 550?

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

Seems the bee's knees on paper. How do they stack up in real life?
Used ones are pretty well priced. Maybe my next bike. How robust are the engines??

[Mikkel]

Seems the bee's knees on paper. How do they stack up in real life?
Used ones are pretty well priced. Maybe my next bike. How robust are the engines??

I know a guy who has one - he loves it to bits.

If you race them they are very maintenance intensive. Even if you don't it is a high-performance engine and you'd better err on the side of caution in regards to maintenance. According to some reviews they are very uncomfortable for long rides - but I think the same can be said for most motards.

They have a dry sump - oil changes are about 1.3 liters I believe. The guy that I know changes his oil and filter (somewhere between $5 and $15) after pretty much every ride.

[gammaguy]

take this as the ravings of a one eyed two stroke guy if you like,but i know this from personal experience.

theres only one way to describe them:

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

what part of the engine hand grenades?

What do you guys call maintenance intensive?

whe are pistons recommended to be changed?

whats the story with barrels? how long do they last?

[Oscar]

Not quite on topic, but there is a lot info on Aprillias here:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=419251
(an Aussie building a SVX Rallye)

[Edbear]

From all accounts a fantastic play-bike, but also, as has been said, "maintenance intensive" with a fairly short life-span.

Haven't heard of average k's but think of them as the four-stroke equivalent of the RS250.

[gammaguy]

someone more one eyed than me(wherever they may be)might say its what happens when a company that made some lovely two strokes tries to get a similar power-to-weight-ratio out of a four stroke engine.

course,i my self would never say that.....:Pokey:

[ajw_888]

I've got one and love it.

There were several issues with the very early bikes, well engineered but assembled after Luigi got back from lunch. If all the service bulletins were done everything should be ok.
Issues were; blowing oil seal between engine pump & g/box pump, sticky rear decompresser, heads not torqued correctly, stator/rotor bolts coming loose, blowing starter motors (they are really small & burn out if run for ages, updated ECU map lets them run for 6 secs at a time).
And the big one - they used an orange sealant (if you can call it that) between the cases and this will eventually fail, mixing coolant and oil followed by a rooted engine. Later models use a black sealant (threebond, yamaha sealabnt etc), a smart move is to split the cases and do it before it fails. Some bikes have gone for ages and other died quickly, If the cases are done, the service intervals are no different to any other bike, just depends on what you using it for.

If you get the latest map loaded (15020 is good, even on the standard pipe), TPS done, idle CO and fueling, it will run really well.

It's a crap commuter, unless you have to travel thru twisty's everyday, you won't get a sore ass because it only holds 7-8 L of gas.

Like all bikes there is and endless list of mod's you can make to improve things $$$

See the aprilia forum for more info http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=50

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

I've got one and love it.

There were several issues with the very early bikes, well engineered but assembled after Luigi got back from lunch. If all the service bulletins were done everything should be ok.
Issues were; blowing oil seal between engine pump & g/box pump, sticky rear decompresser, heads not torqued correctly, stator/rotor bolts coming loose, blowing starter motors (they are really small & burn out if run for ages, updated ECU map lets them run for 6 secs at a time).
And the big one - they used an orange sealant (if you can call it that) between the cases and this will eventually fail, mixing coolant and oil followed by a rooted engine. Later models use a black sealant (threebond, yamaha sealabnt etc), a smart move is to split the cases and do it before it fails. Some bikes have gone for ages and other died quickly, If the cases are done, the service intervals are no different to any other bike, just depends on what you using it for.

If you get the latest map loaded (15020 is good, even on the standard pipe), TPS done, idle CO and fueling, it will run really well.

It's a crap commuter, unless you have to travel thru twisty's everyday, you won't get a sore ass because it only holds 7-8 L of gas.

Like all bikes there is and endless list of mod's you can make to improve things $$$

See the aprilia forum for more info http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=50

Thanks for that! great detail!
nothing can be more maintenance inensive than running a 125cc mx bike!! nothing!
Sounds all good. just some build quality issues. get them sorted and its a good runner by the sounds of it!
Will do some research on that link provided
Cheers!

[pete376403]

I recall reading the recommended engine rebuild interval is 70 hours.

[ajw_888]

If you don't mind a simple project, this maybe a good option, it's got the good seal, assembly issues sorted and a different rear knuckle (one of the common handling mod's: aka vdb link) http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=210457108

All the parts are easliy available internationally(new & used), not sure if the bike has papers for vinning.

Add a set of 2'nd hand Alpinas, shock kit, pipe, air filter, triples, ecu mapping, caliper, short swinger, slipper and it's all sorted!!! perhaps cost these out, work out your budget and make a cheeky offer. I would if I had the money to get another bike to play with.

[DesmoDAZ]

I have one, A SXV550 07.
Bought with 3400km on clock.
Pulled it down to do a re-seal as the 06 and 07 were sealed between the cases with a shitty sealer.
While mine was apart it measured and checked everything. the bores still has fantastic crosshatch in them, pistons and rings were in superb condition all i ended up replacing inside were all the seals and o rings, most avaiable form seal imports. I replaced 2 valve shim buckets, re shimmed all the valve clearances and replaced all gaskets. There have been new upgrades to the head gaskets and several other parts which are well worth while swapping out whilr there apart. The cams and cam chains and tensioning systems were all perfect.
I have since done 3 track days at about 130km each outting with out any dramas at all. T have since carried out many mods some big and some very small and totally worth while.
I have re vented the engine to allow catch tanks to be used for track rules, installed a pipercross race filter and full Ti Akrapovic exhaust, had TPS set, throttle boddies ballanced and correct Aprilia Akrapovic map loaded, re geared for Ruapuna. My next mods will be rear suspension, with an up grade internal sachs kit and Rece tech spring, the front end on standard forks with the correct oil and some simple spacers and settings arer actually pretty bloody good. I want to do a brembo front caliper and master cylinder at some stage but the sbs RACE PADS HAVE HELPED WITH BRAKE FADE 70% I am running 69 rear wheel HP. Rene at E moto did a fine job with the axone and map settings. My ecu reads 88 hours to date and that is really good considering I have seen the internals and as mentioned they looked really sweet, wvwn the white metal on the mains and big ends looked perfect. I have has my oil tested by Catapillar twice since the rebuild and the results have been fantastic. to the point where there has been little to no sign of ant metal wear in the results and no water founf in the tests at all, which is what killed so many of the early engines as the coolant leeked through the poor sealer into the crank cases and destroyed all the white metal bearings, cam lobes and buckets.
I run either elf or plutoline full synth 10w60 oil which is about 1200ml per change which I do with a filter at a cost od $14 every track day 120 to 160km, just good cheep insurance.
I run Red line lightweight shock proof gear oil in the box which runs 510ml, I will change this about every 4 track days, nulon coolant in the system at 50/50
I have a set of Metzler racetech k2's and run them at 24f and 35r psi, they are a superb tyre on this bike 120f 180r.
As an overview after a years ownership.
I have read a hell of a lot about the SXV and am an active member of the aprilia forums on them.
The bikes need to be cared for by owners that can preform at the least, competent fluid changes, filter cleaning and general care and running maintanence. The bike is not a commuter, it is not an everyday ride, it is not a two up blaster o r suitable tourer. I has a 7L fuel tank that gets me fron ch ch city centre to gebbies pass and back, I use two full tanks of fuel at a track day approx 120km. The seat is as wide a a bit of 4x2 and not quite as cumfy.
With out trying to sound like a toss pot I have owned more than 26 motorbikes, and ridden more than 70 different bikes, worked on then for a living for 5 years and have loved them since my first ride on a bike over 34 years ago and I can from my own experiences say that as a 46 year old motorcyclist the SXV 550 is on hell of a fun bike to own and ride, it has a power to weight raito that makes you grin like a silly schoolboy after your first encounter with pu$$y.
It's not so much how much power it has bit more how it makes and delivers it. to quote. "If the SXV 5.5 is heroin then the CRF450R is methadone and a DRZ is baby aspirin." Micah AF1
I'm in no rush to part with mine and I'm picking it may be one I keep for the mantel peice in years to come.
It is good to have a dealer with a knowledgeable tech that has worked on the XV range of aprilia in your city. Aprilia Forums is fantastic and AF1 racing in the states have every part and ship world wide.

[The Pink Panther]

Get a ktm parts will be cheaper and bought straight off the shelf . the SVX has heaps of hp but you have to know how to use it . hence when your at a track tards
clean up over higher hp bikes.

[Quasievil]

isnt there a 2010 model coming out with an improved engine, ie more reliable.
Having raced against them on a few occasions they are the fastest machine out there

[lostinflyz]

as far as i can tell, all the intial production issues are well known and most have now acheived quite good reliability (their not exactly designed to do 100000kms) , from the feedback everyone seems to leave about online.. Remember these were first produced nearly 5 years ago now, so theres been a bit of time to sort them out. The 08 model sorted most of the production issues.

[DesmoDAZ]

Get a ktm parts will be cheaper and bought straight off the shelf . the SVX has heaps of hp but you have to know how to use it . hence when your at a track tards
clean up over higher hp bikes.


isnt there a 2010 model coming out with an improved engine, ie more reliable.
Having raced against them on a few occasions they are the fastest machine out there


as far as i can tell, all the intial production issues are well known and most have now acheived quite good reliability (their not exactly designed to do 100000kms) , from the feedback everyone seems to leave about online.. Remember these were first produced nearly 5 years ago now, so theres been a bit of time to sort them out. The 08 model sorted most of the production issues.




Pinky; All of the above is so correct, KTM's are so sweet and hard at the same time kinda like a GI Jane on steroids, parts all there, still not cheep all the same.

Quasi; they are quick but probably lack the suspenders package on the KTM.

Lostinflyz; They certianly have made them better and better, the 08 cleaned up most of the early issues, the 2010 is even better, new swinger and refined powerplant.
Some of the more noted xv engine buliders are reading 200 hours at rebuild time now.

The 550 really does pull hard and just keeps pulling hard all the way to the limiter which can be bumped way up, just gets a BIT harder on the $$., there have been and still are many roadrace versions bening built around the world, even here in NZ with much success.

If you ever get the chance to ride one, youll grin silly. They are pretty nice on the track straight out of the box but really Closed road canyon style riding is where they really shine,

Such a shame there are not too many closed road canyons in NZ.

[lostinflyz]

Pinky; All of the above is so correct, KTM's are so sweet and hard at the same time kinda like a GI Jane on steroids, parts all there, still not cheep all the same.

Quasi; they are quick but probably lack the suspenders package on the KTM.

Lostinflyz; They certianly have made them better and better, the 08 cleaned up most of the early issues, the 2010 is even better, new swinger and refined powerplant.
Some of the more noted xv engine buliders are reading 200 hours at rebuild time now.

The 550 really does pull hard and just keeps pulling hard all the way to the limiter which can be bumped way up, just gets a BIT harder on the $$., there have been and still are many roadrace versions bening built around the world, even here in NZ with much success.

If you ever get the chance to ride one, youll grin silly. They are pretty nice on the track straight out of the box but really Closed road canyon style riding is where they really shine,

Such a shame there are not too many closed road canyons in NZ.

who's is that bike above??? Im just about to start building one

[lostinflyz]

FYI: the importers are no longer bringing these in, and theres also been some rather alarming price increases on each year model

[NordieBoy]

as far as i can tell, all the intial production issues are well known and most have now acheived quite good reliability (their not exactly designed to do 100000kms) , from the feedback everyone seems to leave about online.. Remember these were first produced nearly 5 years ago now, so theres been a bit of time to sort them out. The 08 model sorted most of the production issues.

3rd at the Dakar for a 450 Aprilia though...

[DesmoDAZ]

FYI: the importers are no longer bringing these in, and theres also been some rather alarming price increases on each year model

Bike above is a build in the states, no idea who's it is, I like a lot all the same, I'd love a ohlins front end for mine from a s or r model monster or the like.
what are you buil;ding? a motard or road race version? if you need any info keep in touch, I know the inside of the engine pretty well.
Got all the manuals etc. cheers

[lostinflyz]

road race. yea that looks like the one roland sands put out, i knew i knew that photo from somewhere.

[meteor]

See what you mean... what a sexy beast!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=287593734

[nallac]

See what you mean... what a sexy beast!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=287593734

Holy shit thats cheap....they are even more sexy in the flesh.....

[Bulldog]

as much as i agree the aprilias are freakin awesome, i simply can't look past the reliability woes. Dudes that ride them for racing or do little kms on them seem to be ok but if you're thinking about commuting on one....don't. Just look at this one advertised....just over 2000kms down and he's done the clutch gear twice or something? Just scares me and you're a braver man than I.

[DesmoDAZ]

Your dead right. To be a little more precise Aprilia NEVER designed the xv range for anything but racing, they were never intended to be a commuter so why even look at them for such a role, that is much like saying you would race a goldwing in the litre class sports bikes. If your into a motard style bike for a commute stick to a DR or even a xt660x but DONT even think about a SXV, that is a big part of the reason the xv got such a bad wrap about reliability; guys buying them and having no idea how to treat a race bike, no oil changes, no warm up, gear box oil, shit is that seperate to the engine oil, the list goes on.
The xv range generally use about 100ml oil every 120km of hard riding, they are ment to! to top them off ank way you go.
Dick heads would use them like a lwan mower, use it till it dies then moan like spoilt brats.
SXV's and RXV's are not commuters.

Get a DR400sm and be bored real quick. LOL

[Bulldog]

I agree with everything you've said, I'm just not sure everyone here was understanding thery're not for road use. If I was racing motards...thats what I'd have.

[R6_kid]

I'm currently looking at an 06 SXV550 with 7300km on it. It's got a later model starter motor and has been remapped as well. Apparently its had the gearbox seal done - not sure on the orange sealant yet though. I'm gonna go back and have a better look to see if I can tell if the sealant has been fixed. I'm gonna get the guy to drop it into the local service agent that did the previous work on it before he owned it (only done 1000km on it) and see what they can tell me so hopefully that checks out.

Has anyone owned one of these earlier model bikes for a decent amount of time, and what sort of mileage should I realistically expect out of one before it needs a rebuild? I've heard varying things about them in terms of reliability but from what I can tell its 6000km between services (valve clearances only?) and I don't mind changing the oil and filter every 1000km or so if that is what is required.

I test rode it and it was fucking mental, no scary noises apart from me screaming in my helmet - not quite but I certainly yelled FUCK pretty loud the first time I opened it up coming out of a roundabout. I'll be using it for trackdays and 'weekend' rides with the occasional short commute so I think it'll work out alright for me, I just want to know that I'm not gonna end up with a sea anchor after another few thousand kms.

The only other thing I really want to know about is if there are any long range tanks or perhaps softer seat options available without getting anything custom made.

[Squiggles]

The only other thing I really want to know about is if there are any long range tanks or perhaps softer seat options available without getting anything custom made.

12L Tank (http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=4635) </10char>

[NordieBoy]

The only other thing I really want to know about is if there are any long range tanks or perhaps softer seat options available without getting anything custom made.

Well they race the 450 in the desert races (Dakar) and they need about 300km min range. So there must be something out there.

Found one. IMS 20L
http://www.justgastanks.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_8&products_id=1136

<img src=http://www.justgastanks.com/store/images/tank7.jpg>

[R6_kid]

Now all I need is a cushy seat and some reassurance about the reliability and this bike is starting to become practical... its either this or an 08+ R6.

[badblackbuell]

After 3 years on my DRZ400SM I'm still not bored?


Your dead right. To be a little more precise Aprilia NEVER designed the xv range for anything but racing, they were never intended to be a commuter so why even look at them for such a role, that is much like saying you would race a goldwing in the litre class sports bikes. If your into a motard style bike for a commute stick to a DR or even a xt660x but DONT even think about a SXV, that is a big part of the reason the xv got such a bad wrap about reliability; guys buying them and having no idea how to treat a race bike, no oil changes, no warm up, gear box oil, shit is that seperate to the engine oil, the list goes on.
The xv range generally use about 100ml oil every 120km of hard riding, they are ment to! to top them off ank way you go.
Dick heads would use them like a lwan mower, use it till it dies then moan like spoilt brats.
SXV's and RXV's are not commuters.

Get a DR400sm and be bored real quick. LOL

[avgas]

After 3 years on my DRZ400SM I'm still not bored?
After 5 minutes on one chasing Carver on my old bike (FZ1)..... I was.

[SVboy]

After 5 minutes on one chasing Carver on my old bike (FZ1)..... I was.

Try chasing BadBlackBuell on his Dr and then come back and say that!!

[avgas]

Try chasing BadBlackBuell on his Dr and then come back and say that!!
I had no problem with the DRZ until 150kph. Really needed the front guard cut off it too - that shock like a mother after about 140.

I have always dreamed of a 690 duke with a turbo though. Something that would do 200 klicks.