TL1000S vs Aprilia RSV

[nudemetalz]

As speaking as an owner of an Italian V-Twin, you don't just buy a bike, you buy an artwork also.
It's like, you just go into the garage and get the bike out or just leave it in there and stare at it. You take another picture of it then another......
You realise that it's got more hand-finished pieces on it (I'm sure the Aprilia has), than most Japanese bikes have.
People come over for dinner, while you're waiting for it to be served up, you take them and show the bike. I seriously considered an RSV as it was standing right next to the V-11 but the only thing that swayed the Guzzi for me was that I was wanting to ride slower not faster.

Basically what I'm saying is, is that while the TL'S is a great bike, it doesn't have the aura or mystic that only Italian bikes have.

Doesn't anyone else agree with me here, or have I gone stark raving mad.

[skelstar]

...Also practical stuff too, are you planning on doing many marathon type of adventures, which one would be more comfortable for long rides?

Yeah still plan to do the day trips to Aucks...I should be fine. Theres plenty of people who do the long trips on far less comfortable bikes than an RSV.

...it's not like picking a life long partner, just a 'Ms right for now' type deal, providing she doesn't break your heart (or your wallet)...

Just what a chick would say! ...I'm a long term guy Trudi, you know that!!!

Doesn't anyone else agree with me here, or have I gone stark raving mad.

Yeah I can understand what you say. I'll admit that I'd love to own an Italian bike, but I make more decisions about what I'd prefer to ride when I'm actually out riding on a/the bike. I'm more likely to yell:

"hell yeah this sounds cool!" or "man this thing leans!!!"

...not...

"woo hoo this is Italian!!!"

*shrugs* depends what you want

[Clivoris]

Well thats the problem eh. Talking with Jay it seems that I want to 'lead' the bike, which means that I want to drag myself forward over the front-wheel probably subconsciously trying to get my weight over it. I just need to get a sports bike.

My understanding is that the Tuono ride position places weight further back and there is something about the feeling of connection that clip-ons can provide. The Tuono just feels vague compared to some other bikes. I'm hoping that some front end jiggery pokery will help resolve this. Then again, Thuper-Duke riders don't complain about front end confidence.

[modalx]

Some people reckon if you want a V twin you've pretty much already decided to go for heart over head. If you are into track days you are likely to get monstered by 600s. On the road its different. Even when you are sweating to throw around the porky pig, you can blast out of the corner and leave them in a wake of sound as they wait for the sewing machine to wind up. So the twistys is where the fun is and what you want is rock solid platform to brake hard and grunt out. Quirks make bikes interesting and lovable - that's why some of us don't want the bland competence of a new inline 4. But I also want handling predictable enough that its mostly the tyres not the frame that is the limiting factor. For my money that leaves the RSV miles ahead. Or (naturally) an SP ;-)

[skelstar]

Or (naturally) an SP ;-)

I think the SP1/2/3 is the best looking bike of the lot...esp the RC51s they are selling in the US.



Yummy. Love the white ones too.

[Trudes]

awwww, that's a nice Hoonda!! Get one of those!

[Darkman]

Yummy. Love the white ones too.

ohh yes..yes ..yes..get one mate!!!best out of them all I reckon

[skelstar]

Yeah, friggin sexy eh...not many for sale though.

[imdying]

As speaking as an owner of an Italian V-Twin, you don't just buy a bike, you buy an artwork also.
It's like, you just go into the garage and get the bike out or just leave it in there and stare at it. You take another picture of it then another......
You realise that it's got more hand-finished pieces on it (I'm sure the Aprilia has), than most Japanese bikes have.
People come over for dinner, while you're waiting for it to be served up, you take them and show the bike. I seriously considered an RSV as it was standing right next to the V-11 but the only thing that swayed the Guzzi for me was that I was wanting to ride slower not faster.

Totally agree... you get that for free with the Italian bikes, you have to add it yourself to the Japanese ones. 98TLS, OAB, both of their bikes have the mystique and art like qualities you describe. The difference is, their bikes are one off, personal, and they had to do it themselves

[marty]

what are you talking about?? there is nothing wrong with changing the swingarm angle/rake on a TL if it is done with some understanding of geometry and suspension...

!!

i have no idea.

changing geometry to suit is not hard, you just need to know what you're doing - and more importantly, WHY you're doing it!

and yeah - i'm sure the rear swing arm on the TLS is fine. The TL-R one looks a lot gruntier - i thought it (the TLS one) had a bit more flex than it should, certainly didn't feel as planted as the monster one on the Busa.

Maybe i'm just a fat cunt

[RC1]

i have only had my TLS for a year now and have put on over 20000ks on the clock(not used for commuter bike ) and have never had probs it love riding the TLS gives me the biggest grin when im riding just love it , seems to have more character then any il4 i have had and character makes it more fun to ride imho mines a keeper if you in hamilton you can test ride but im sure you could find one closer,

[98tls]

As speaking as an owner of an Italian V-Twin, you don't just buy a bike, you buy an artwork also.
It's like, you just go into the garage and get the bike out or just leave it in there and stare at it. You take another picture of it then another......
You realise that it's got more hand-finished pieces on it (I'm sure the Aprilia has), than most Japanese bikes have.
People come over for dinner, while you're waiting for it to be served up, you take them and show the bike. I seriously considered an RSV as it was standing right next to the V-11 but the only thing that swayed the Guzzi for me was that I was wanting to ride slower not faster.

Basically what I'm saying is, is that while the TL'S is a great bike, it doesn't have the aura or mystic that only Italian bikes have.

Doesn't anyone else agree with me here, or have I gone stark raving mad.

I understand what your saying,my old man had a succesion of bevel drive Ducatis when i was a young fella......the blue and silver 900ss in particular just took my heart away.......for me anyway the Ducatis built these days have lost that aura.....dont get me wrong i am not saying thay arnt fantastic motorcycles,ive only owned one and not a very good model at that......actually i will be honest and say it was a pile of shit but more fool me for buying it.i appreciate any motorcycle thats had time and effort put in by the owner and with the amount of japanese classics about these days i believe the words classic.aura/character apply to them as much as any off the rack italian bike,i used to love seeing an italian bike on the road but these days i really dont notice em anymore as theres so many of them and they kinda all look the same.........anyway a bit off topic,whatever you buy i hope you enjoy it as much as i enjoy mine...

[skelstar]

Just an update if people are interested.

Well, I have been kinda put off the TL for now...I think the ones I can find are aa little too long in the tooth and the grey area regarding the handling issue will more than likely prey on my mind to be honest. So looked at the RSV option. The one that I had lined up was (rightfully) out of my reach money-wise, so I'm now thinking of maybe spending a bit more and looking at the following options:

'04 ZX-10R, CBR954RR, '04-06 ZX-636R, '03 RSV, 748R

I know that a V-twin was my first choice, but I think I'll enjoy the fact that a sportsbike engine is going rev-freer and feel 'lighter' than the one in my Hornet. In car terms it feels like the flywheel is heavy in the CB900, so when I'm in a corner with the revs high its hard to keep the throttle smooth. Not sure if that analogy translates to bike engines.

Like the 10R before they went underseated...same with the 6R. Wouldn't mind one of the orange/pearl magma-red R's. I like orange *shrugs*. Might get one of either of those for about $12k.

I've ridden an 03 RSV so that would be nice. I think I could get a good one for about $12k. I think they are a much better looking bike than the '99.

I heard a whisper about a cheap 748R yesterday (in red!). Would be a pretty awesome bike to own, maybe a little wasted on me...more worried about the comfort than anything else. My neck isn't the strongest eh...guess I'll have to hit up a 996/998 rider/mate for a Feathers-Martinborough test ride sometime. Just to get a feel for the ergos.

I haven't ridden any/many of these bikes so its a bit of a guessing game as to what they will be like. As I have said before I'm not so much worried about how fast they are, just the sensation and the comfort/rideability.

Anyway, welcome thoughts if anyone has any.

[Kendog]

Simons bike?

[Trudes]

Yeah Skels, just check out Nige's signature, be a man not a woman....
As for the weak neck, stop with the hand exercises for a bit and do some neck ones instead, nodding is usually a good start, aye Nige (just nod )
All p/t