My new toy

I am Tifosi · 9 Oct 2003, 23:05 (Ref:745777)

It's been twelve long years since I retired from roadracing. But, I never lost the itch. I head out this weekend to Pittsburgh to pick up this Italian beauty. It is an Aprilia Mille v-twin with about 130hp at the crank and weighs about 411 lbs. Pretty nice power to weight ratio.

I think my wife is getting jealous.

JMeissner · 9 Oct 2003, 23:46 (Ref:745788)

Very nice indeed!

JustinDawkins · 10 Oct 2003, 13:40 (Ref:746318)

Doesn't an RSV have a tell-tail on the speedo that stores the top speed reached?

Asking for trouble!

I am Tifosi · 10 Oct 2003, 14:06 (Ref:746340)

"But officer! I was at the race track last week."

JustinDawkins · 10 Oct 2003, 14:20 (Ref:746348)

Yeah, it was in a ............er..................field up the road, not on the highway!

I am Tifosi · 10 Oct 2003, 17:37 (Ref:746551)

I'm more worried about wife seeing it.

Do they really have a tattletale? I know the computer has a lot of features, but I'm not sure I like this top speed feature.

Warwick · 10 Oct 2003, 22:22 (Ref:746769)

Quote:

Originally posted by I am Tifosi

I think my wife is getting jealous.

And so she should be,with a bike like that I wouldn't be spending much time with the wife.

JustinDawkins · 10 Oct 2003, 22:27 (Ref:746775)

Quote:

Originally posted by I am Tifosi
I'm more worried about wife seeing it.

Do they really have a tattletale? I know the computer has a lot of features, but I'm not sure I like this top speed feature.

Yes it definately has, my dad borrowed one for a few days for "evaluation" - probably best if its not mention it to your wife!

ASCII Man · 10 Oct 2003, 22:51 (Ref:746789)

You can get a nice aftermarket exhaustsystem á la Ducati for that bike.

I am Tifosi · 11 Oct 2003, 01:35 (Ref:746893)

I was able to get the Aprilia titanium slip-on and the e-prom chip at cost. That will have to do for now. Anything is better than that pregnant stock can. I really like the Renegade (British) twin pipes under the tail. It's not quite like the 916/996/998, but runs just outside the license plate and still keeps the passenger pegs (gotta keep the wife and kids happy).

I leave at 3 am (about 6 hours from now) and I don't know if I can get to sleep. It feels like Christmas.

JustinDawkins · 13 Oct 2003, 10:52 (Ref:749315)

You must have it now, how is it?

**Aysedasi** · 13 Oct 2003, 12:19 (Ref:749436)

Hang on.

This is in the "Road Car" forum.

So where are the other two wheels.......?

Bluebottle · 13 Oct 2003, 19:36 (Ref:750114)

I've been trying to ignore that discrepency for a while now Ayse, maybe we need a forum name change?

I am Tifosi · 14 Oct 2003, 18:42 (Ref:751218)

Quote:

Originally posted by JustinDawkins
You must have it now, how is it?

What a trip! From Tennessee to North Carolina thru Pittsburgh. That is what I had to do to get the red bike and I am glad I did it. It is absolutely gorgeous. I've been rolling it into the motel room at night and can just stare at it for hours. I just love red hot Italian beauties.

This is THE most powerful bike I have ever ridden. Unlike in-line fours, this v-twin pulls like a freight train through the entire RPM range. I can't believe something like this is actually legal. My mind is still trying to re-calibrate to how fast things go by. My skills are definitely rusty and the bike is far more capable than I am at this point. I can't wait to get it back home to ride on the roads that I know. Some guy on a hopped up GSX-R600 passed me on the highway and I just couldn't resist. I know it wasn't a fair fight, but she just launched by him like he was sitting still.

Still breaking it in, but did manage to get to 110 mph.

BTW, with the training wheels it has four wheels. This has to be the right forum.

I am Tifosi · 19 Oct 2003, 01:04 (Ref:755445)

There was a noticable power surge at 7,000 rpm, but that is now gone.

When I got home Friday night there was a large Aprilia box on the doorstep. I actually managed to get it before Mrs. Tifosi got home.

I had purchased an Aprilia hop-up kit, which included a titanium slip-on canister and an e-prom chip. The increase in horsepower was phenominal (like it needed it). I weighed the stock slip-on (19 lbs) and the titanium one (5 lbs!!!!). That should put the dry weight now at 397 lbs. Replacement of the slip-on and the e-prom took all of 30 minutes.

I had an excellent ride up Calf-Killer Creek, but I can't even touch the capabilities of the bike. Really flicks back and forth effortlessly and the torque is overwhelming. I just put it in third gear and let that v-twin rumble. I can only imagine what it would be like to ride it at ten-tenths on a race track.

I took my daughters (8,8,12) for a short ride with a top speed of 33 mph and they were just grinning from ear to ear and can't wait to ride again.

Airhead · 23 Oct 2003, 11:17 (Ref:760536)

Good on you Ferarri Dude,

As a Ducati owner I think the Aprilia is a great bike. Good to see someone else out there getting amongst it.