New bike time……maybe !

I’ve not ridden either, my dilemma is will I get bored with the 660 coming from a RSV1000, and what do I need to look for should I go down the V4 route. It’s not about power or speed, comfort and ride ability is now my priority.

Any suggestions please 

Glad to hear from you….. are there any electrical/mechanical issues that have materialised for the V4 that potential buyers need to be aware of ?

And having ridden a Gen 2, how would you compare it to the V4 product ?

Cheers

Andy 

ajaycad wrote: As much as I love my Gen 2 Factory, it’s becoming a bit of a handful for my 5ft 6in and 57 years of age. I

Wow, I was just going to post saying how I've fallen in love with my Gen2 Tuono that I previously couldn't bring myself to like.

Since a refresh with Bridgestone tyres,Ktech forks and a change of bars and footpegs I found my new life companion that is now a solid keeper.

On the downside it now handles so well my average speed was probably getting on for 20 mph faster on my favourite roads as I was so chilled and comfortable.  70 was feeling more like 30 which given our impending 30mph downgrade to 20 doesn't bode well for my license.

Heading towards 71 now with a whole new appreciation of riding. ( My Mille is still bloody uncomfortable though)

For what it's worth (nothing) if I was to change my bikes the only Aprilia I'd consider is the 660 Tuono,just because it's smaller,lighter and presumably easier to control for my ancient body.

Absolutely no way I'd entertain a V4 of any type unless it was something like a classic baby Honda.

I've been blitzed by supermotos many times while I've been out enjoying myself on my Mille and frankly declined to try and hang with them as I value my life and liberty.  On track I certainly would have accepted the challenge though.

The way things are going we'll soon be trying not to exceed 20mph in towns and that's not nice even with short gearing.

On the same piece of 12 mile road down to St Mawes, I can hustle my wife’s 600 Hornet just as quick as my RSV. If anyone can exploit a modern large capacity sports bike to its full potential on public roads, your either going to prison, going to die or you should be joining a MotoGP team….. just my tuppence worth !

JimmyV4 wrote: im sure like most when we passed our tests we had something better than a tuono 660 - i had a 1999 R6, big wake up call that day was.

Power; R6 = 108; 660 = 99

Torque: RS660 = 55;  660 = 49

Yes, the R6 has it on stats but I suspect the 660 would have it on usable day to day performance

some one said something really similar, im not a moto gp team rider but do the track day circuits and im not that fast.

i reckon that 660 barley gets 60bhp at the wheel. and id imageine a hornet is quite close power wise to a gen 1- no idea. coming form a gen 1 and 2 the major difference in owning a more modern sport bike is the electronics, banging the throttle open mid corner anti stoppie and wheelie, we can then download the road onto the phone app and set up a custom map for that road, engine breaking corner to corner, the amount of mid corner traction corner to corner etc and trust me you gonna be a hell of a lot faster that a gen 1 or 600 hornet without ever being in a "moto GP" team every time i bring this up anywhere i always get the same "you must be rossi" etc hahaha no its just modern, packed with technology to help even low level amatures go fast couple that with the fact the bike is the size of a 125 and feels like it weighs the same you have a recipe for go fast - my SL55 has near 700bhp and i have seen 200 on the clocks often but you wouldn't believe it, im not in a F1 team. i get that you dont need it but its not always what you need sometimes its about what you want again just because you have it dosent mean you have to use it.

so for me a 660 is something you get get as a first bike - but even then i would push my son into a R6 or ZX6R it just has more balls - on paper at least - never ridden a 660 and i wouldn't imagine i ever would regardless of how old or blind i get.

Yes but it’s been a garage Queen for some time. 

I'm the Mike James mentioned above, had a Gen 2 T for 4 years and 12K miles.

I switched to a 19 plate RR T 3 months ago and have added 2.4K miles since, a lot of it towing James around behind me .....or just slowing him down probably. For reference I'm also 5'6'', 60 and 13 stone in kit.

I've tried to avoid direct comparisons and try to take the view that it's like playing the same tune but on quite different instruments however that's not how we think.

The V4 is an evolution in all respects with the brakes and suspension matching the engine's output. I find the engine to be more friendly around town (having the racemap loaded recently nearly all snatchiness has gone), smoother cruising and gives monstrous midrange acceleration on the road. I'd read people commenting about it being less torquey than the twin, I've not noticed that however mid/upper range is in another league.

I find the riding position comfier, pegs slightly lower, seat softer, suspension more able to be set compliantly - it definitely fits me better (I rode 230 miles on Wed without any aches after).

Fuel - I'm gonna get some flack here, about 15% better that my twin, averages about 44mpg.

Tyre wear - similar to my twin.

Gets very hot on warm days.

I loved owning my twin and didn't sell for any reasons relating to the bike itself. I simply fancied a change , had wanted a V4 , don't have any blood sucking kids so test rode one and there was no going back. I absolutely don't need 175 bhp however being able to tap into that warp speed rush (and supporting electronics when the back wheel is spinning) and knowing it's there ticks a personal box for me in some odd way. I also went in with my eyes open financially, whilst the running costs aren't any different to my twin I know and accept some service aspects are costly and any potential repairs might be too however problems on this bike age are few.

Sorry if this long winded but that's my experience so far. My Factory V2 felt special, this V4 does too, if I had a healthier bank balance I'd have kept the twin but I suspect would have always grabbed the V4 keys first.

I agree, I don't need all that power, electronics etc however I didn't buy just to satisfy the need for two wheeled transport. I bought it because I wanted it (after test ride), I want to ride it daily and it adds a huge amount of colour to my life but they're my reasons.

I've also got a flat barred Daytona 675 which is about 115 bhp I guess, it's fast, handles beautifully , brakes well and is as much as I ever really need . Riding A to B on the road I bet there's not much between the two although the experience is very different and logically I don't need any more power but for me that didn't influence my decision.

As for the 660, not ridden one but I'm sure it'd make a good road bike choice.

James will no doubt be along with the ins and outs of  V4 selection. I simply went as new as my budget would allow once the twin was sold.