2012 Aprilia RXV 550 vs the 2008 KTM 690E l- let the games begin

**paturoa** · 2nd February 2012, 12:17

Originally Posted by cooneyr

You should see what KTM recommended for the old RFS motors at 90 hours - crank main bearings, balancer shaft bearings, conrod bearings etc.

Now that is just stupid!

Is that engine a hot motocross donk or enduro?

**cooneyr** · 2nd February 2012, 16:50

Originally Posted by paturoa

Now that is just stupid!

Is that engine a hot motocross donk or enduro?

EXC so enduro. Same bottom end as KTM RFS SX (motox) bike except for ratios. Don't worry the RFS motors are well proven and there are examples of bikes with 20k km or 900 hrs on them with no work.

**vegeman** · 3rd February 2012, 07:42

Originally Posted by Night Falcon

Vegy how dose the power comparo stack up with the 690 on map 2 setting? what gearing dose the Atalian run? whats its top end speed like? Will it crusie ok at 110-120kph? These are important issues that must be resolved

I'll know more this weekend...but gut feel, the power from the ape is better than I thought, and there was more lower than I thought...and it pulls harder than I thought. At this stage, it feels 'more' - eek. -!@@# BUT it seems very close

Gearing is a poxy 5 speed, at its now running 46 rear, and need to check the front...15 i think

riding 110-120 seems fine, wheels need a balance more than the anything. Strange riding at 100 and seeing rev's at 6000'ish, and yet knowing that it might only be running at half its rev limit.

Top speed, again...we should see. It goes into shop as its done the run in, so full throttle awaits...i predict >175+

**vegeman** · 3rd February 2012, 19:00

Finally...we are seeing something in the bike to make me feel better, as fuel usage is pretty high...sure performance costs!! but its more than expected. Not sure if the poor economy is related to the run in period, but we have a ride tomorrow so we'll get another look. (I can't see it being much better, as the bike has not had any full throttle action.

The 690, I generally get around 20K/litre which works out to be 180K to reserve 240K per 12L tank.
The RXV seems to be around 14k/litre so quite a drop..and the economy different ie 25%, won't equate to a 25% in power.

The other BIG thing relating to this economy IS that according to the user manual 'please don't let the fuel run dry'...hmmm - thats something to manage

Fuel Economy - KTM 1 - RXV - 0

**paturoa** · 3rd February 2012, 19:47

Originally Posted by vegeman

The other BIG thing relating to this economy IS that according to the user manual 'please don't let the fuel run dry'...hmmm - thats something to manage

Yeah I googled that some more and yes, if you run the tank dry it ferks the fuel pump. $$$$$$ ensue from there.

**Frodo** · 4th February 2012, 08:49

Originally Posted by vegeman

The other BIG thing relating to this economy IS that according to the user manual 'please don't let the fuel run dry'...hmmm - thats something to manage

Yes, a real risk with Aprilia Pegasos, but also BMW F650s

**Drew** · 4th February 2012, 09:00

The fuel pump thing is a fuckin dumb idea aye. I'd put a switch in the line so that when it goes dry, the fuel pump turns off.

Really simple mod, and should have been a factory thing.

**paturoa** · 4th February 2012, 09:04

Originally Posted by Drew

The fuel pump thing is a fuckin dumb idea aye. I'd put a switch in the line so that when it goes dry, the fuel pump turns off.

Really simple mod, and should have been a factory thing.

But then they wouldn't sell gazillions of $$$s of spare parts (fuel pumps).

**tri boy** · 4th February 2012, 09:46

Chasis, brakes and suspension off this bike.
With a simple, low maintenance, torguey engine shoe horned in. MHO

Whats with designers these days?

Edit.I gues MXnut is getting that with his Husky630, (when it turns up. Go'on mister, give us a ride........)

**Crim** · 4th February 2012, 11:27

If you want power to weight you'll be needing a 2012 450EXC, latest Kiwirider has them at a claimed dry weight of 11kg,

I can put twice that in the fuel tank of my "the most powerful dual sport motorcycle in the world" in one filling

**vegeman** · 5th February 2012, 09:52

Now, before I type more...I need to choose my words carefully so as not to seem insensitive to my mate, as he has just forked out for a new machine albeit...about the same price as a brand new KTM, but nevertheless...

THEN, this is a standard RXV (except dB adapter removed, and change front tooth from 14T, to 15T) against my tuned KTM (Leo Vince slipon muffler, foam air filter, akra map, 16T front) so we also have to consider that the bike has yet to be fully uncorked...and once that is done, the shoe maybe on the other foot BUT its about were things are at now.

We had our first decent ride and blast to see what it was all about, and the first this to state is how quick both these machines are...the reason is that we lent the WR450 to another mate to join in the blast...and the WR is fast, but for 'power' it wasn't even a contender anymore.

Top Speed - KTM
We had a good ol honest, full thottle, lie on the tank, long road run, and the KTM pulled out front, and then just keep going with the RXV slowly falling behind. Not much in it, I hit 172, his speedo said max speed 175. I'm sure my is accurate, as I've enter the true rolling diameter into the computers wheel size setting..both bikes ran out of power (or gearing) ie they didn't have the power to pull the gearing any further as both of us could not hit limiter. I know it can, but wind direction was the factor yesterday. I was about 7700 - 7800, I beleive festy was 10500.

So perhaps there is some tweaking there to do on the RXV, but lets be honest...its fast enough, and the KTM has the benefit of the 6th gear which I think will always make the difference. If you change the gearing for higher speed, then first gear maybe too tall, and vice versa. It looks like the RXV can't go to a 16T.

Also once the thing is uncorked, I'm sure it will pull higher...I'll take this one for now.

Acceleration - KTM
We had several drag away from the lights, each man for their own, thrash the fuck out the motor and clutch...3 drags, 3 KTM wins
not sure how this one will go in the future, as 'supposedly' he couldn't keep the wheel down as it was, so more power doesn't seem the answer...maybe I'm better

Fuel Economy - KTM
My word, that RXV is shocking compared to the 690...obviously we were doing the same route, and mostly riding the same way but considering it was bad at 14K/lite, it's hard to believe it would get that much worse but it did. With offroading, it dropped to 10k/litre which considering that reserve kicks in after 5.7Litres...it means that after 60K's we were looking for fuel again. Sure the bigger tank is about to be installed (12L) but that doesn't change the rate of consumption...eek

Lets hope the uncorking and perhaps a remap can solve this delivery problem...I'm sure it doesn't need that much fuel.

Coolness and Sound - RXV
With the dB restrictor out of the muffler, it improves the sound and its so cool...to hear the v-twin go up a single track in the quiet bush is just different, at low rev's it sounds like a superbike twin, then once the rev's come up...you can hear the turbine/whine which actually awesome as well. This thing uncorked will attract people just to hear it...I guess those italians love their great sound engine.

**Taz** · 5th February 2012, 10:07

Originally Posted by Crim

If you want power to weight you'll be needing a 2012 450EXC, latest Kiwirider has them at a claimed dry weight of 11kg,

I can put twice that in the fuel tank of my "the most powerful dual sport motorcycle in the world" in one filling

I've given up on KR. Now one of the least informative mags out there IMO. And sooo many mistakes.

**Eddieb** · 5th February 2012, 12:11

Originally Posted by vegeman

THEN, this is a standard RXV (except dB adapter removed, and change front tooth from 14T, to 15T) against my tuned KTM (Leo Vince slipon muffler, foam air filter, akra map, 16T front) so we also have to consider that the bike has yet to be fully uncorked...and once that is done, the shoe maybe on the other foot BUT its about were things are at now.

Top Speed - KTM
We had a good ol honest, full thottle, lie on the tank, long road run, and the KTM pulled out front, and then just keep going with the RXV slowly falling behind. Not much in it, I hit 172, his speedo said max speed 175. I'm sure my is accurate, as I've enter the true rolling diameter into the computers wheel size setting..both bikes ran out of power (or gearing) ie they didn't have the power to pull the gearing any further as both of us could not hit limiter. I know it can, but wind direction was the factor yesterday. I was about 7700 - 7800, I beleive festy was 10500.

So perhaps there is some tweaking there to do on the RXV, but lets be honest...its fast enough, and the KTM has the benefit of the 6th gear which I think will always make the difference. If you change the gearing for higher speed, then first gear maybe too tall, and vice versa. It looks like the RXV can't go to a 16T.

Also once the thing is uncorked, I'm sure it will pull higher...I'll take this one for now.

Acceleration - KTM
We had several drag away from the lights, each man for their own, thrash the fuck out the motor and clutch...3 drags, 3 KTM wins
not sure how this one will go in the future, as 'supposedly' he couldn't keep the wheel down as it was, so more power doesn't seem the answer...maybe I'm better

Fuel Economy - KTM
My word, that RXV is shocking compared to the 690...obviously we were doing the same route, and mostly riding the same way but considering it was bad at 14K/lite, it's hard to believe it would get that much worse but it did. With offroading, it dropped to 10k/litre which considering that reserve kicks in after 5.7Litres...it means that after 60K's we were looking for fuel again. Sure the bigger tank is about to be installed (12L) but that doesn't change the rate of consumption...eek

Lets hope the uncorking and perhaps a remap can solve this delivery problem...I'm sure it doesn't need that much fuel.

Coolness and Sound - RXV
With the dB restrictor out of the muffler, it improves the sound and its so cool...to hear the v-twin go up a single track in the quiet bush is just different, at low rev's it sounds like a superbike twin, then once the rev's come up...you can hear the turbine/whine which actually awesome as well. This thing uncorked will attract people just to hear it...I guess those italians love their great sound engine.

Given that the 690 is 20% bigger than the 550 it sounds like the 550 is doing pretty well. That fuel economy is always going to be an issue fro adventure riding if it doesn't improve though.

**Woodman** · 5th February 2012, 12:29

Originally Posted by Taz

I've given up on KR. Now one of the least informative mags out there IMO. And sooo many mistakes.

Agreed, its like groundhog day.

Originally Posted by Eddieb

Given that the 690 is 20% bigger than the 550 it sounds like the 550 is doing pretty well. That fuel economy is always going to be an issue fro adventure riding if it doesn't improve though.

Yea, sounds like a fun bike alright, but a days exploring would be a bit dissapointing if you had to constantly look for gas.

**Night Falcon** · 6th February 2012, 17:17

Originally Posted by Eddieb

Given that the 690 is 20% bigger than the 550 it sounds like the 550 is doing pretty well. That fuel economy is always going to be an issue fro adventure riding if it doesn't improve though.

+1. Range is an important part of adventure riding (not so important for straight enduro's). 250ks is a min range IMO, which makes the 690's stock tank a tad undersized. I'd be very surprised if the RXV's drinking problem cant be improved with a change of brain settings