Aprilia SXV 550?

[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/List...x?id=287593734

[nallac]

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

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?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:Me]

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

[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/in...oducts_id=1136

[R6_kid:Me]

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.