my Aprilia Superleggera project
Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2017 6:34 pm
OK I know it's not a Storm but if the media and government are to be believed there's nothing wrong with diversity 
So here is my Aprilia RSV ...
Time for a new project I think, towards the end of the summer I seriously considered selling my '01 RSV 'R' in fact I went as for as advertising it !!, I really fancied either a KTM RC8R or a S1000RR, but with a budget restricted to around £6K I realised I'd be buying from the cheap end of the market, potentially problematic high mileage, unloved examples, I did some research on both bikes and even looked at a couple, the research revealed both were prone to problems with the KTM gearbox's, snatchy engine and general poor build dominate the forums you seem to get either a good one or a dog, it seems a bit of a lottery. Even the BMs aren't without issues, electrical mainly but some disturbing reports of early bikes rod bolts coming lose !!My problem was I'd skint myself to buy one so any problems I'd probably not be able to afford to fix them as newer bikes and especially the BM are very complicated and the electrics are pretty much a dealer only fix so even minor issues can be very expensive to sort out. In the end I saw sense and decided to keep the RSV but give it a bit of a make over.
So why 'superleggera' ? well apart from sounding cool it means superlight in Italian and one of my project aims was to 'add lightness' so it seemed apt. Superleggera while literally meaning superlight actually relates to a construction technology developed in the mid 30s by Italian coachmakers Carrozzeria Touring, and was basically a framework of small diameter tubes covered with a beaten alloy skin, no I don't propose to rebuild the RSV in this fashion but I'm definitely aiming to get it a little lighter.
So here we have perfectly good and usable '01 RSV 'R', some of you may remember it from the OP Storm trips
rsv2_zps94da31b4
I've had it 3 yrs and it's been great, very well built and so far totally reliable, I've tried to keep it well serviced and look after it, it's only mods are FR100 chip, Blue Flame Ti can and a K&N filter, so when I decided I was keeping it I thought a bit of a fettle was in order.
About 6 weeks ago I SORN'd it and started looking for parts, the plan was to replace all the bodywork with GRP both to save weight and to allow me to bubble wrap the OE kit and store it safely away, I also wanted to increase power a little. Now I didn't really want to change anything that couldn't be changed back, I like the idea of been able to return it to stock if necessary.
This is the bike today, looking a little different...
DSC_0566
DSC_0567
DSC_0568
so far I've got full race fairings/ tank etc fitted lining up the race fairings and dzus fasteners was a pain the fairings certainly aren't factory quality, anyway all now on and reasonably straight next job is lights and final preping for paint, under the skin is a renegade style carbon air tray, 57mm TB's, Edwards tubes, modded collector, Ti Akra can with 60mm link pipe, FR200 chip along with a PC3 custom mapped by PCR Performance all this is on and running, one of the nicest parts is the Brembo RCS 19 radial master cyl, I liked the one on Tony's SP so much I had to have one, it really is a thing of beauty.
DSC_0569
although it does hit the dash at full lock, so I'll have to find a solution to that maybe move the clocks a little or alter the lock stops. Over the next few weeks I'll be busy sorting the lights out and getting it painted, it will be having a small projector headlight and probably a simple LED brake/tail light this means it will have to have a day time MOT but I can't remember the last time I rode in the proper dark.
Further plans lightweight lithium ion battery, maybe a quick action throttle and of course I'd really like a slipper clutch but it's a fair wad of cash, it's on my wish list I'll just have to see if funds allow, other than that it will be largely just routine servicing, oil filter, coolant, brake strip and rebuild new pads, linkages/bearings stripping and re-greasing finished off with some nice sticky tyres and hopefully all completed for April next year.
So here is my Aprilia RSV ...Time for a new project I think, towards the end of the summer I seriously considered selling my '01 RSV 'R' in fact I went as for as advertising it !!, I really fancied either a KTM RC8R or a S1000RR, but with a budget restricted to around £6K I realised I'd be buying from the cheap end of the market, potentially problematic high mileage, unloved examples, I did some research on both bikes and even looked at a couple, the research revealed both were prone to problems with the KTM gearbox's, snatchy engine and general poor build dominate the forums you seem to get either a good one or a dog, it seems a bit of a lottery. Even the BMs aren't without issues, electrical mainly but some disturbing reports of early bikes rod bolts coming lose !!My problem was I'd skint myself to buy one so any problems I'd probably not be able to afford to fix them as newer bikes and especially the BM are very complicated and the electrics are pretty much a dealer only fix so even minor issues can be very expensive to sort out. In the end I saw sense and decided to keep the RSV but give it a bit of a make over.
So why 'superleggera' ? well apart from sounding cool it means superlight in Italian and one of my project aims was to 'add lightness' so it seemed apt. Superleggera while literally meaning superlight actually relates to a construction technology developed in the mid 30s by Italian coachmakers Carrozzeria Touring, and was basically a framework of small diameter tubes covered with a beaten alloy skin, no I don't propose to rebuild the RSV in this fashion but I'm definitely aiming to get it a little lighter.
So here we have perfectly good and usable '01 RSV 'R', some of you may remember it from the OP Storm trips
rsv2_zps94da31b4 I've had it 3 yrs and it's been great, very well built and so far totally reliable, I've tried to keep it well serviced and look after it, it's only mods are FR100 chip, Blue Flame Ti can and a K&N filter, so when I decided I was keeping it I thought a bit of a fettle was in order.
About 6 weeks ago I SORN'd it and started looking for parts, the plan was to replace all the bodywork with GRP both to save weight and to allow me to bubble wrap the OE kit and store it safely away, I also wanted to increase power a little. Now I didn't really want to change anything that couldn't be changed back, I like the idea of been able to return it to stock if necessary.
This is the bike today, looking a little different...
DSC_0566 DSC_0567DSC_0568so far I've got full race fairings/ tank etc fitted lining up the race fairings and dzus fasteners was a pain the fairings certainly aren't factory quality, anyway all now on and reasonably straight next job is lights and final preping for paint, under the skin is a renegade style carbon air tray, 57mm TB's, Edwards tubes, modded collector, Ti Akra can with 60mm link pipe, FR200 chip along with a PC3 custom mapped by PCR Performance all this is on and running, one of the nicest parts is the Brembo RCS 19 radial master cyl, I liked the one on Tony's SP so much I had to have one, it really is a thing of beauty.
DSC_0569 although it does hit the dash at full lock, so I'll have to find a solution to that maybe move the clocks a little or alter the lock stops. Over the next few weeks I'll be busy sorting the lights out and getting it painted, it will be having a small projector headlight and probably a simple LED brake/tail light this means it will have to have a day time MOT but I can't remember the last time I rode in the proper dark.
Further plans lightweight lithium ion battery, maybe a quick action throttle and of course I'd really like a slipper clutch but it's a fair wad of cash, it's on my wish list I'll just have to see if funds allow, other than that it will be largely just routine servicing, oil filter, coolant, brake strip and rebuild new pads, linkages/bearings stripping and re-greasing finished off with some nice sticky tyres and hopefully all completed for April next year.
. they are a nice bike to start with but love seeing them being made into something different... like lost bikes make it the way the factory should have..
I may just bung 1/2 a cable tie round the OE throttle so shorten the cable a bit