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

[vegeman]

good one festy...and good to see you made in online, together we can share our views on 'kicking ass' - but if anything...its gonna kick your ass first! but rest assured...I'll be there to help pick up the peices - and then once you are sorted, you'll get you chance for a shot at the title

Its going to be hard to brag or lie, as we will have the hero cam's for evidence...

later dude

[Monstaman]

good one festy...and good to see you made in online, together we can share our views on 'kicking ass' - but if anything...its gonna kick your ass first! but rest assured...

... and THAT your honour is when the fight started

Lookin forward to this who wins the gets to the (first loser) .... second place getter

[NordieBoy]

I'll get the manual off Festy and upload some of the basics, but we were talking this morning, and he mentioned 3000K's is the oil change period... thats pretty high now, so they must be comfortable enough now to state that as a service interval.

I think they have sorted those major prob's from the past...*fingers crossed*

The 450's have gone well at El Dakar.

[vegeman]

Yep, for ease of maintenance they now schedule the oil change & the engine change at the same mileage

Have fun
Clint

ha...funny indeed - but lets me honest...its great to have a new kid on the block to taunt and the ktm's have been ruling the roost for awhile...so while the machine is spanking new, and its all working...its a weapon for sure. (it may kill everything around it, but its the way to go)

[nzcarnivore]

good one festy...and good to see you made in online, together we can share our views on 'kicking ass' - but if anything...its gonna kick your ass first! but rest assured...I'll be there to help pick up the peices - and then once you are sorted, you'll get you chance for a shot at the title

Its going to be hard to brag or lie, as we will have the hero cam's for evidence...

later dude

Yep it might take a while to control - but once done I will put my HERO cam footage of your KTM being roosted on the Youtube page of the HERO Parade where it belongs....

[nzcarnivore]

The 450's have gone well at El Dakar.

Yep, Aprilia have taken the risk and pioneered twins in the off-road space.... it wont take long (and a few high profile wins) before the other manufacturers start looking at compact twins for their sub 600cc off-road competition bikes.

That's what happened in 1998 when Yamaha pioneered the 4 stroke YZ400F into competitive motorcross / supercross (and Doug Henry wiped 2 -stroke ass at the AMA Nationals)...
And my bet is that after a couple of Dakar finishes and a few Aprilia RXV / MXV's show up on a few enduro and motorcross podiums, the other manufacturers will look at following suit to stay competitive ...

So I guess I am a pioneer.... I owned the '98 YZ400F in 1999 (still have it) and now the RXV.... so lets see how long it takes before we get history repeating itself.

Bring it... Mono Cylinder dinosaurs!!!!

[young1]

Didn't Josh Coppins race an Aprilia for a year, that would have been a twin, how did he go?

[Night Falcon]

They do say 2 heads are bet than 1, and as a lot of adventure rider injuries are from slow speed climb offs, it would appear the faster you go the safer you are

[paturoa]

Looks like a mega fun bike!

Found some interesting reading at the following sites.

Forum -> http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/f...-5-5-5-V-Twins

2006 Manual -> http://slorider.com/Aprilia/

Page 14 (16) of the manual is a good read....! quote "DEATH."

There is a goodun on pg 24 (26) "AVOID DEPLETING THE FUEL RESERVE AT ALL COSTS, LEAST YOU DAMAGE THE FUEL PUMP" Sounds like running the tank dry is not a good thing!

Looks like you can set the rev limiter via the dash - good idea for break in.

The regarding service, the 2006 manual, says every 9000 km to replace piston and rings and a bunch of other internal engine stuff - ouch $$$

[vegeman]

They do say 2 heads are bet than 1,

no silly,....its better with when twins are involved - you'll get there

[vegeman]

Looks like a mega fun bike!

The regarding service, the 2006 manual, says every 9000 km to replace piston and rings and a bunch of other internal engine stuff - ouch $$$

with 2012... everyting seems to be far improved...and keeping it real, the LC4 changed for the better esp 640 -> 690 during the years...so lets see how the pasta blasta goes - I have to beleive and I'm still confident our cyclops, one cylinder, monosaur will still rule in the long run BUT if it doesn't we'll take drastic measures.

[NordieBoy]

Didn't Josh Coppins race an Aprilia for a year, that would have been a twin, how did he go?

Yep. His last year.

From what I remember, it had the speed but low end traction was lacking compared to the singles.

[nzcarnivore]

Yep. His last year.

From what I remember, it had the speed but low end traction was lacking compared to the singles.

...that's probably cos his back wheel was spinning too fast to bite in!!

[cooneyr]

....The regarding service, the 2006 manual, says every 9000 km to replace piston and rings and a bunch of other internal engine stuff - ouch $$$

You should see what KTM recommended for the old RFS motors at 90 hours - crank main bearings, balancer shaft bearings, conrod bearings etc. I've just clocked 120 hours and only done around 4000km's. I'm currently doing 1.2l of oil ever 15 hours, filters (2x) and checking valves every 30 hours. Don't plan on opening the motor for at least another 100 (or more) hours based on what I've read about the EXC's doing 900+ hours (requires valves change).

Oil change intervals of 3000kms and piston at 9000kms sounds like heaven. Why not be a guinea pig!

[Night Falcon]

with 2012... everyting seems to be far improved...and keeping it real, the LC4 changed for the better esp 640 -> 690 during the years...so lets see how the pasta blasta goes - I have to beleive and I'm still confident our cyclops, one cylinder, monosaur will still rule in the long run BUT if it doesn't we'll take drastic measures.

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