Aprillia RST 1000 Futura

[banditrider]

Hi all, anyone here have any experience with Aprillia Futura's. The old man's found a 2002 model with around 20km on it. Anything to look out for? Good or bad? Go forever or explode weekly?

[Coyote]

They look cool!

I remember at the bike shop I used to work at, one of them came in to get it's wiring loom waterproofed. Apparently they short easily. Not sure about the full story, but that's worth looking into.

If they're a good bike they'll be bumped up on my list of dream bikes. I was looking at them on trademe earlier today, dreaming.

[NZsarge]

The only bloke i'm aware of on KB that has a Futura is Bull, might want to PM him perhaps.

[riffer]

I've ridden Bull's bike.

Very pleasant handler, not too dissimilar to the RF. Softer handling but tracks really well through corners.

Ridiculously good Brembo brakes. Nice motor - detuned from the RSV but still enough grunt to loft the front nicely in first off the throttle.

Sounds horribly rattly at idle but cleans up well with some throttle.

Talk to Bull regarding the 'lectrics - there's a really issue with the alternator wiring which is easy enough to sort out.

Only really bad things about the bike (apart from the easily sorted electrics) are the silly looking mirrors and the 80s influenced instruments.

Easy enough to do the regular maintenance on - provided you haven't taken the centre stand off as they're a one-sided swingarm. The chain is easy to adjust.

I'd recommend one. They're easily up there with the best of the sport tourers.

[bull]

Everything you need to know is here mate. I absolutely love mine.

Biggest issue is the adding wiring to the rectifier/regulator(stops it from melting the connectors and catching it on fire) and the plastic fuel quick disconencts to be replaced with the metal versions. Though have a read through the aprilia forum and its all in the sticky's on there.

Oh and if you can get one that has the factory panniers with it as they are hard to find and very expensive.

Also the ugly mirrors comment is true(thanks Riffer) but you can simply repalce them with RSVR integrated mirrors or even the GSXR mirrors(need to create an angled spacer for these).

[Racing Dave]

I rode one in the Chatto Creek Motorcycle Club's 1000 Miler a few years ago, and loved it. Only a semi-sporting riding position, so was comfortable for the many hours, great lights, so safe at night, easy strong power, so not stressful to ride at speed. Once you get past the quirky looks (it grows on you) then you find a splendid bike underneath. I recommend them, too.

[banditrider]

Thanks for the info guys!

[426crasher]

I've got an 02 Tuono and it's brill. Just passed 50k on it now and had no problems at all. I did the twin wire mod that helps the battery, otherwise i just ride it. I'm hard put to think of any thing negative about it. Oil and filter changes are a breeze and i generally find it an easy bike to work on. The headlight on the Tuono is not that fab. I would say try to ride both but the Futura is a bit more compfy on really long trips. Futara looks expensive to fix if it toppled over.
Cheers Tony