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

[vegeman]

Yeah...fuel range is something to manage for sure. I'm ok with the range out of the standard 690 tank. I just filled up today after our hooning together and did 164K's for 9.5 litres which is 17K/litre, and is pretty good considering the riding.

I also hope the range will improve with opening the system up and getting some efficiency. Seems unfair that I have to carry the extra fuel but the more I carry makes up the weight difference between FEsty and I...as I think that will be the final factor is who is quicker. He carries an extra 25Kg of body mass...so that has to have impact for sure.

On Sunday, We replaced the standard 8l tank with the genuine 12L tank and that should at least see 120K - 160K now...so thats ok for a lot of trail and 'managed' adventure rides.

[vegeman]

Festy dropped is bike again...bless him for using the machine, and not worrying about it as a lot of people do with new, expensive machine :-)...and bent the radiator. So he ordered some french thingys which as per normal, I have to install. They we nicely made, and a very good fit. Sure all aftermarket needs some jiggery pokery to make them fit but these were good.

here's a link to the units-http://www.af1racing.com/store/scrip...idproduct=3253

Festy also believes that dropping down to a 40 tooth sprocket (which is small really) is going to make the difference in racing the 690. With the ktm having 6 speeds, I think its always going to have an advantage on a 5 speed regardless of how its geared especially when its a full day of different conditions.

I installed the sprocket, and it needed a link taken out...which I couldn't do due to my chain tool having a broken extractor pin, but we still had to give it a quick test with that gearing and I must say, I'm still impressed with the RXV - as I power wheelied on the on-ramp I thought straight away that I'm surprised that the ktm is faster/quicker (well at this stage) as the Ape is very nice to ride. The power for the RXV builds very quickly and has excellent throttle response, I would say that it has been designed to deliver max power and torque quite low in its rev range (as opposed to the SXV motards), and I think it runs out of puff once the rev's get up. You get feel the surge during the mid rev's and then feel it die out as the rev's build BUT this could just be the standard exhaust...which I'm sure will get replaced, and allow it to breath properly...

Speaking of riding..The Ape suspension for me is perfect, and I think heaps better than the 690 - very plush, smooth, and copes with all conditions. I want my 690 to feel like that RXV. this means that I will need to do revalving and have to spend $1K...so I give the RXV 1 point for that.

[Night Falcon]

...so I give the RXV 1 point for that.

For the benifit of all the scientists following this thread....is that 1 point split evenly over both forks and the rear spring (1/3 1/3 1/3) or is it 50/50 front and rear, or maybe .75 front and .25 rear?

[vegeman]

For the benifit of all the scientists following this thread....is that 1 point split evenly over both forks and the rear spring (1/3 1/3 1/3) or is it 50/50 front and rear, or maybe .75 front and .25 rear?

one can only imagine how fun you are at parties :-)

[Night Falcon]

one can only imagine how fun you are at parties :-)

I wouldn't know I'm always in the kitchen at parties

[NordieBoy]

one can only imagine how fun you are at parties :-)

He's a 690 owner. They're all a bit "like that".

[Night Falcon]

He's a 690 owner. They're all a bit "like that".

....ok... so I did take my 690 photo album to a few parties once to give them a bit of a lift....why wouldn't ya?

[warewolf]

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.

It'd be nice, but "won't take long?" Are you serious?

The '98 YZ400F was a (big) step along from the '96 XR400R which pioneered the latest 400 4T revolution. Both those bikes dominated immediately. The 'prilia v-twin has been around for what, 6 years or so now, and although its racetrack performance (esp. motards which are much more a top-end horsepower game than any off-road competition except beach racing) in the hands of the few who could afford them is notable, after all these years it's still rare exotica rather than a common-place revolutionary game-changer.

Seems to me they've already passed the crest of the wave, as there's fewer of them in motards now than a couple of years ago. I thought they'd stopped making them!

Signed,
A Realist.

[Night Falcon]

Seems to me they've already passed the crest of the wave, as there's fewer of them in motards now than a couple of years ago. I thought they'd stopped making them!

Signed,
A Realist.

Arn't there fewer motards period, than there were a few years ago?

[Stylo]

+1

This is fun and, I have no comment ....

[warewolf]

Arn't there fewer motards period, than there were a few years ago?

Reckon there's fewer of everything due to the economic climate. But for motards, being excluded from the road bike classes was an extra sting.

[nzcarnivore]

Reckon there's fewer of everything due to the economic climate. But for motards, being excluded from the road bike classes was an extra sting.

Yep - put the 40 rear sprocket on and man does it still pull but now its faster in each gear - I think I would take the 690 now from a standing start - still not sure on top speed it would be close - but it feels like I've added another gear and not too tall if you dont mind working the clutch a little down slow and tight stuff. Seems even more fun to ride and wheelies still with twist of throttle in first 3 gears. It now sits really nicely on-road at 120km's at 6000rpm which feels really comfortable, throttle barely cracked in top gear and no vibrations... then you've got all that great down low fuel injected twin torque at your disposal when you crack it - pulls like its in 3rd or 4th!

So the mods I've done so far .... just the sprocket.
Ive got exhaust and Air filter as next steps, ECU remap and I think that will put me out front across the board of that nasty orange scarpy looking thing!
I have 20kg's of weight over Viv... so of course thats a handicap as well that I'm sure has an impact as well... a light, crayfish legged, stick boy of 85kg's on this bike (like Viv) I think would be moving it a bit faster than my fat ass.

the suspension sure is nice on and off road.... very plush....

So It continues... but it feels faster now already than the KTM... will get on the road and confirm it! Am loving this bike ... feel a bit better too about putting it down with the radiator guards... nasty clay Karapoti.... poxy slippery tracks up there....

[Night Falcon]

Yep - put the 40 rear sprocket on and man does it still pull but now its faster in each gear - I think I would take the 690 now from a standing start - still not sure on top speed it would be close - but it feels like I've added another gear and not too tall if you dont mind working the clutch a little down slow and tight stuff. Seems even more fun to ride and wheelies still with twist of throttle in first 3 gears. It now sits really nicely on-road at 120km's at 6000rpm which feels really comfortable, throttle barely cracked in top gear and no vibrations... then you've got all that great down low fuel injected twin torque at your disposal when you crack it - pulls like its in 3rd or 4th!

So the mods I've done so far .... just the sprocket.
Ive got exhaust and Air filter as next steps, ECU remap and I think that will put me out front across the board of that nasty orange scarpy looking thing!
I have 20kg's of weight over Viv... so of course thats a handicap as well that I'm sure has an impact as well... a light, crayfish legged, stick boy of 85kg's on this bike (like Viv) I think would be moving it a bit faster than my fat ass.

the suspension sure is nice on and off road.... very plush....

So It continues... but it feels faster now already than the KTM... will get on the road and confirm it! Am loving this bike ... feel a bit better too about putting it down with the radiator guards... nasty clay Karapoti.... poxy slippery tracks up there....

nice work. I can't help but respect your entusiasim to match or better the orange assassin Theres one thing you hav'nt tried though which would definately give you more grunt.... sell the prillie and buy a 2012 690R

[NordieBoy]

Theres one thing you hav'nt tried though which would definately give you more grunt.... sell the prillie and buy a 2012 690R

Or a 780cc FI DR650.

Almost stock really.

[vegeman]

Well its winter, I'm broken and Festy doesn't like the cold, but it also seems neither does the bike.

The RXV is living up to its primadona status, and also won't play in the cold, in fact it won't start...looks like the lean setting prevents the bike going meaning it needs a heater in the garage for an hour or so to warm it up...sheesh. From what I have read on other forums, its quite a common problem.

Festy clearly doesn't like to share these nuances, character traits so I feel its my duty to share for the 'greater good'

Seriously though..its been escalated back through the dealer network, and back to Aprilia to get it resolved...as we would be buggered if it has to be parked outside on a real trip...unless it has a blanky