New RSVR Owner - A couple of questions

Hi all.

I've just (last week) collected my 05/06 (that is one of my questions!) RSV1000R that replaced my Honda VFR 800 VTEC. I've always maintained a sensible bike and a sports bike until now with my sports bike being a Ducati 749, however I could n't resist the RSV any longer so now I have two lovely looking Italian sports bikes!




The bike has just over 2.5K on the clocks when I collected it and its immaculate! I've put on about 400 miles since then but I've not been able to ride it really hard due to a combination of weather and getting used to the new bike. Sod's law says that today being really nice here in SW London I have a storming hangover as a result of not drinking for a month then have a few shandies last night.

So far the bike is excellent and I commute into Canary Wharf on it most days (it feels like a sports tourer compared with the 749!) . I believe the bike is standard although I intend to make a few minor modifications:
-Adding Ventureshield protective film to the tank
-Add Mount and power for my GPS (Done)
-Add my Autocom under the seat (Done)
-Find a decent tank bag.
-Solo Seat Cowl
-Some rear luggage, maybe Ventura rack/pack.

In good time I'll replace the cans and maybe go for an after market airbox/filter. I'm unsure what year my bike is because it has the earlier air intake piece but also (OEM) clear tail lights. I've seen the shop here sells the later intake piece. Is this easy to fit?

I also have the common rear brake problem and I've been told a good solution is to buy some rearses that relocate the master cyl. to the rearsets rathar than under the engine/clutch. Has anyone been down this route?

Any other comments or recomendations for luggage, exhausts and other modifications would be appreciated.

I am seriously considering stripping the CF off the 749 and selling it to buy a Factory as well now!

Best Regards,

Ed




Edited by 1_POB - 14 Sep 2008 at 12:13

Hi there.

I find the bike fine for the commute. I have tried an upright trail bike on the journey to work but found the bars too wide and at the right height to interfere with van's wing mirrors. I therefore prefer sports/ST bikes for heavy traffic. I sometimes get stuck when I don't have the steering lock to fit around a car but I try to pre empt these situations and get out of the way to give the more manoeuvrable bikes a chance! I do try to give the bike a bit of throttle  on each journey but as the entire trip is in 30mph zones its not easy. I do tend to get the bike out for a minimum of a 50 mile run each week so it does n't waste away as a commuter! I also only work in the office two/three days per week.

I think I've got the standard gearing on there but I will take off the sprocket cover tomorrow and check. I've not really red lined it yet although I did have a play with a Focus ST on the A3 at midnight on Friday coming back from Heathrow :)

AS for the clutch; This is fine for me as its pretty similar to the Duc when that was standard. I've got the MPL slave on that so I might order another for the RSV.

Thanks for the tip regarding the hero blobs. I doubt I'd be getting those down so they may as well come off!

I wish I had ordered the full Venturesheild kit now. Maybe I'll return the tank only set and get the full kit.

Its a shame to hear those cans are not great. I do like the darker finish of the standard cans so I'll try and find something similar or maybe carbon cans. I was considering these:

http://www.solocorse.co.uk/exhausts-solocorse.php

Best Regards,

Ed

To answer one of your other questions, your bike is a 2005 model.  These had the same shape fairing and tail as the 2004 but with clear lenses and radial brakes on the standard model.  You can also spot them by the lion's head paint jobs (red, black and silver options).  I think the black colour that you have is the best black colour scheme they did.  (Obviously the red and silver 04 ones are still the best though!)

As for the exhausts, I've got titanium Akras and the quality is amazing copmpared with other brands, and I think they look pretty good too.  Although I have taken off the massive Akrapovic stickers as i though it looked a bit tacky with them on.  All a matter of taste i suppose.

Luggage wise I used a Kreiga US30 tailpack to tour for 2 weeks around Europe (combined with a Kreiga R20 rucksack for a few lighter items).  It lived up to its 100% waterproof tag all trip despite several deluges, and no need for waterproof covers, which because you need to stop to fit them you often don't bother and end up with damp clothes.  The wife had oxford sports luggage and even a short shower without the covers meant damp clothes.

For more capacity i got a ventura system with it when i bought the bike from the previous owner, but sold it as it was just too bulky for my needs.  Brilliant though if you need more space, and totally stable.



Edited by monkeeman - 18 Sep 2008 at 13:26

YorkyMart,

Do you have a picture of the modified baffles, would be interested in that myself.  I agree on the little holes being left looking rubbish, a circlip would be a lot nicer. 

I like the carbon straps to be honest, they're top quality and look a lot nicer than the rubber covererd straps of most other brands.  Suppose they are a bit flimsy until tightened up, and I did use exhaust paste to make them free of leaks. 

All pros and cons really.

fusebox wrote: nice bikes ed! top man for commuting on yer bike! can be tough down that neck of the woods in the morning cant it!! plenty of people on here for advice if you need it fella! dude i reckon the slipons sound and look the bizzle!!! just my opinion! nice one Griff

Griff,

Thanks.  It can be pretty busy to be honest, especially now that the schools are back. I need to start getting up earlier to avoid the bulk of the traffic. Today it took 45 minutes to get in which is pretty slow (all time record was 27 minutes at 23:00 !)

I've seen two RSVRs in two days (Black 06 on Nightingale Lane, Clapham and stopped next to a Red 05 outside Kennington tube this morning) so they are popular bikes it seems. The red bike has the Akra/Aprilia Racing cans fitted and they did put my standard bike to shame!

Monkeeman,
   Thanks for that. I actually realised I could check my VIN which I did but thanks for confirming the differences. I just compared two pictures of the 05 and 08 bikes and the differences are quite aparant but also pretty subtle! Are plastics transferable between models?
  Thanks also for the opinions on luggage. I'm still undecided to be honest. I have the Kreiga R35 Rucksack that I carry everyday with my laptop in it. Great bit of kit. I also have a US20 tailpack and I know you can mount the tailpacks together so I was thinking of going for US20-US30-US-20, sort of like mini panniers. These sit on the pillion seat and then be strapped right under the tail of the bike. Obvious problems are paint rubbing and heat from the exhausts so I'll look into this. I have some old Oxford soft panniers and I suspect they'll perform no better than your wife's luggage therefore its either Ventura or this modified Kreiga system.

Yorkymat,
   I'll take a look at the others systems. I like the look of the Leo Vince Evo slip ons with carbon end caps. The high level ones are really nice too they would probably make luggage more of an issue. I had the same baffle issue with the Staintunes on my VFR although I never got stopped for it!


Thanks for all the help and comments.

Best Regards,
Ed

Hi Monkeeman, I´ll take a pic this weekend when I get home. Just a word of warning though , a spare pair of baffles is about 70 quid delivered from Performnce Parts, if you don´t want to butcher the originals for MOT time ,  I was dead lucky I found a pair on e-bay for 30 quid.

Edited by YorkyMart - 18 Sep 2008 at 18:02

One more question regarding plastics and model differences; Presumably the single seat cowl / pillion pad cover is the same across all models?

Best Regards,

Ed

Thanks for that. I'll order the 05 style from the RSVR.net shop (I know they are back ordered at the moment).

Best Regards,

Ed