Aprilia RSV Mille Review

[@mrp8339]

OH WOW ....WOW .....WOW.. please please please don't be offended by my comment but I have owned two Milles for 6 years now all totally standard... and no problems at all... no electrical problems... no problems with the rear brake .it will certainly lock the wheel up if I press it... the bike is my number one choice when commuting.. the its maximum temperature is around 85 degrees and I don't let it sit idling in traffic either.. These bikes are probably the most reliable bikes i have ever owned. If the brake have excessive travel like that then you have air in the system for sure.. Don't let the bike idle for too long standing at maximum temperature they ate a race bike and need to keep moving for air flow ... doing this will cause ethe electrical problems. Only run the bike up to 85 degrees to check the oil with the fairings off.. My insurance is only 200 pounds for the year and my milles are both R models.. They are old bikes and in the wrong hands like any other bike ..things will fail.. And like any vehicle that still runs with standard parts after 20 years is a bloody engineering marvel. The exhaust pipes on that bike are SP titanium silencers and the standard silencer does not touch your boot. There is plenty of bodywork for these on Ebay etc but I am in the UK

[@RoadsOfOz]

Great to hear from an owner. Thank you for sharing your experience. Insurance here in Australia for bikes like these is expensive. I am glad that is not the case over in the UK. I have ordered body parts from the UK due to how hard they are to find here in Australia.

[@walterpinkerton7520]

That was a great run down on the machine! Thank you! I own a 2000 RSV Mille R, and your comments on maintenance were spot on. Quirky electricals are the only problems I've run into, and happily they've all been things that an afternoon in the driveway could solve. Be sure to track down an owner's manual as well as a service manual...you want that owner's book for resetting all the dash displays when the battery inevitably goes down, or just needs to be changed out. Whenever voltage gets low (if you try to start it with a weak battery) or you disconnect for a battery swap, all the displays reset to initial factory specs (MPH to KPH, Farenheit back to Celsius, shift warning light to 5K, etc) Being here in the US, I have to change everything over each time. Mark the pages in the manual...you'll be happier, I promise! You also hit on something important for anyone in the market for a solid sport machine...this is a great bike if you are taller! I'm 6ft plus, and find the seating very comfortable, especially against more modern sport bikes. Personally, I did not find anything alarming on the brakes (as some people comment on), so it is possible fresh shoes and a good brake line will make the difference. But to be fair, I lack the skills to get close to this girl's real abilities, so it could be me! As you noted, she responds well to firm and committed riding and the "R" versions can be set up for track use almost immediately. The Ohlins suspension, steering damper, and the surprisingly deep capabilities of the electronic system will reward your efforts. I have had a number of bikes through the years, including a TL1000S, a Triumph 1200 Daytona, a big police Harley, and an old Honda 750 Super Sport. And after almost ten years together, I can say the Aprilia remains my favorite for pure fun of ownership. Grab one if you can!

[@RoadsOfOz]

I would love to have a Triumph Daytona 1200 one day. Here in Australia they are fairly rare. But when they come available, they are very affordable. Thank you for the feedback. I enjoy hearing from owners.

[@madanto2394]

The 2003 version is the best the noise is nearly a cure for depression

[@RoadsOfOz]

I love the staccato sound this V twin produces.

[@madanto2394]

@@RoadsOfOz it's glorious-when it cold starts it like a bomb goin off.

[@WindTherapyToday]

Exactly!! Especially with 8in delkavic

[@Zulu_117_ST]

Love how you have broken down the segments in you video, very easy to watch and so informative x

[@RoadsOfOz]

Thank you.

[@darthvader1000ish]

Great video mate, I've a gen 1 mille and agree with everything you've said . I like the way you've segmented it , very easy to watch

[@RoadsOfOz]

Thanks for that. Glad you enjoyed the video. The RSV is a very nice bike. They are alot of fun on a track day.

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

This is one of the Aprilia models that made history. I remember the day when it came out. It looked so good and today it is the same. I never tried one, but would love to. It had a lot of tech that time. Really a wonderful machine, but wasn't cheap, even to maintain and service. :) Great video Matt. Enjoyed.

[@RoadsOfOz]

You need to test ride one mate. Would love to see what you think of them.

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

@@RoadsOfOz If I will have a chance I will.

[@2_Wheel_Addict]

Picking up a 03 tomorrow super stoked for it! And this video is some informational and definitely gives me so knowledge! Thank you man!

[@RoadsOfOz]

You are welcome. The 03 is the pick of the bunch.

[@2_Wheel_Addict]

@@RoadsOfOz It's an amazing machine no doubt! I love it got a little ride in today and the torque is unbelievable

[@rolandkeith5322]

Very cool I did not know too much about these bikes really, I always like the look of these bikes and a cool toy to have in the shed. I would think if you get a good one and look after that you would have a nice bike.

[@RoadsOfOz]

Very much so. Stay on top of the maintenance and they are a good thing. A very underated bike.

[@petemacfarlane6478]

"Never see a motorcycle outside a psychiatrist's office" 😅 Thanks for the great review and channel in general Matt.

[@RoadsOfOz]

You are welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@TheGorillaBiker]

Now that is a dream bike lineup in the garage :D You've made me go looking at early tuonos again....I'll end up buying another V twin Ape at some point. I miss that Falco all the time. They sounds bloody magnificent. Good on ya getting all the off the bike shots, so much hassle doing them ride bys. Oddly a good seating position for us tall folks for sure. So bloody true on the cabling eh, I ordered that retrofit kit first thing when I bought the Falco. The tanks with E10 over here I'd be very concerned with too, they don't like ethanol. I loved the gentle walk away from the side stand, horrifying design :D God this video is going to end up costing me some money I think :D Great run down amigo!

[@Bauchito1]

Hey Gorilla...my Falco was delivered on Thursday this week. Your vids (collecting my Falco from Germany) helped me a lot to convine me to buy this one. Was not moved over the last two years. All liquids, sparks, tyres, etc. new. Was not a mistake to buy it. Looking forward to the first ride (have to organize a plate). Thanks again and all the best to you!

[@RoadsOfOz]

I have been lucky enough to have this bike in my shed for a few months now. I am handing it back this week. It has had me trawling classifieds and there were so many bargains out there. Way too tempting.

[@devinwagers3134]

Absolutely love my Falco. I originally bought it to fix up and flip but don't think I can part ways with it just yet. They're quite rare over here in the states.

[@pauln6803]

It's not really the E10, it's plastic tanks in general. Ducati might have been sued in yank land, but plastic fuel tanks were suffering expansion and deformation a good few years before E10 was rolled out.

[@karlosterlund9209]

Bought my 1999 red Mille for under 4000€ and the insurance is not much more than my previous 600cc. I ride on the road and occasionally on the track and this bike feels like the perfect combination for that. It’s also big enough for me as a tall rider. It has the upgraded battery, cables and starter solenoid too.

[@RoadsOfOz]

Sounds like you have yours well sorted. Insurance here in Australia is redicuously expensive.

[@1400griff]

Hi, loved your review, I had an rsv tupno 1000 in 2003, gorgeous bike, broke my heart, sold it on, could not live with it.Figured out most of the faults, and I will have one again.Most of my issues were wiring and a starter clutch.Thanks.

[@RoadsOfOz]

The 03 model is my favourite Tuono. Would love to have one one day.

[@tazyt3388]

Aprilia always make great engines the sound the feel and how hard they pull all good things mate

[@RoadsOfOz]

I do have a bit of a soft spot for them. Especially after owning one (2005 RSV1000R) for 5 years.

[@tazyt3388]

@@RoadsOfOz one of my 1st vids on the channel is a fast ride with an rsvr my xr600 and a ducati up a closed targa stage its epic

[@beamdoctor5637]

Such honest advice. I still have my 2002 and need a fuel pump from contaminated fuel.

[@RoadsOfOz]

Thanks for that. Hope you get the pump sorted soon.

[@Moz42]

Good spread of information of the bike. Certainly, it sounds like it has its issues. Good one, Matt. Ride well. Cheers

[@RoadsOfOz]

Thanks Moz. If you are aware of the issues and stay on top of them. These are amazing bikes.

[@ThrottleDownunder]

Well done Matty. A super thorough video. Loved it

[@RoadsOfOz]

Thanks mate. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@xpanco]

this review is pretty much bang on ....I still own the gen 1 and gen 2 ....just in case one don't start...I have the other one lol

[@RoadsOfOz]

Nothing wrong with a back up. Which one is your favourite? I have had both and could not give you a convincing answer.

[@thehorsevet]

Great taste , I have the same 2 gen 1s in the same colours …. The other thing it might be worth mentioning is the headlights ( not how bright they are but how they like body panels are “ unobtanium “ and differ from early bikes like the black one to the later silver one. 1 mille as an unknown purchase of a “ cheap “ sports bike for a guy who always wanted a ducati but couldn’t come ate the servicing and oddballness has leas to me owning a number of Aprilias, ( I currently own 3 including a falco ) great to see someone do a video on these in Australia. Ps we are all different, I love commuter rides through sydney on my mille ( just hope I don’t need neutral ) there’s another common flaw

[@RoadsOfOz]

I am a fan of the Falco. I was surprised that more were not sold here in Australia.

[@romanoguttadauro6116]

Hello Mate, Thanks for the very informative video and tips I have a 2002 Troy Corser Rep with 18K miles. I'm just wondering why did you not mention the 2002 Troy Corser Replica in yellow? She's a great looking bike this bike seems to have been forgotten. Did you not get this version in Australia? Cheers Romano Palm Beach Florida originally from UK.

[@RoadsOfOz]

Hi, I was not aware of it. I only knew about the models that I mentioned (The Haga and Edwards replica).

[@Zulu_117_ST]

Awesome review Matty! Looks like a fun bike ❤ride

[@RoadsOfOz]

It was! I love the sound. But will be handing it back this week. You might like what I am testing next 🤫

[@thecreativecruiser]

i almost done understand but i appreciate sure the knowledge

[@RoadsOfOz]

Thanks for the support.

[@xKYLAFORNIAx]

I love my RSV Mille R Edwards!

[@RoadsOfOz]

Yeah. I definitely missed an opportunity to own one. If only I knew more about it at the time.

[@StaVrosRaf]

I really need one of those next to my TL-R

[@RoadsOfOz]

Now that would be a great double in the garage. Two big twins from similar era's.

[@StaVrosRaf]

@@RoadsOfOz i was close to getting one but the TL was the better deal... But now i can't get it out of my head. Cheers on yours btw its a beauty.

[@0xthespaniard885]

99 owner here, electrics are bang on dicey, best solution is to do a custom wiring loom, separate lights from power and voila!🎉

[@RoadsOfOz]

Thank you for the tip. It is always nice hearing about owners experiences with these bikes.

[@pauln6803]

The 99 had power lines (to/from reg/rectifier etc) that were not really up to the job. The first revision (2001) has heavier gauge wires connecting the regulator rectifier. A bigger capacity battery was always the recommended mod due to the possibility of the compression kicking back against the starter sprag if the battery was a bit low and unable to crank the motor.

[@FrankTripleMoto]

What a cool bike Mattt

[@RoadsOfOz]

Yeah they definitely have some cool factor. Especially when you hear one riding by.

[@Snijkamp]

Great video, but a small tip: When you do a 'listen to this sound section' , turn the music off 😅

[@RoadsOfOz]

Noted. Will do.

[@wowwipeout71]

Dunno mate, for an Italian V-twin, they were more japanese like in reliability than a Ducati? Agree, parts especially plastics are hard to find but motorwise, many parts can still be sourced and it pays, like you said, to look at aprilia forums paying attention to crossover parts. Yep, electrics are a issue especially the ones you pointed out but again, their is heaps of fixes that one can do for cheaply and at least they don't burn like Ducati 916-998. Sprag clutches on all Vtwins are an issue and shoudn't be isolated to an Aprilia 60 degree twin so if your battery is not around 12.7-12.8v cold, it will have a very hard time starting even in moderate weather let alone a cold garage in the middle of winter which is when most sprag clutches get fried ...and ditch the AGM battery and go lithium. Never found heat to be an issue as it's a v-twin? Ducs, SP1, VTR's and TLRs all feel more or less the same when sitting on them in traffic on a warm day...especially when the thermo's kick in and you know what a convection oven feels like. I've had mine now for 24 years and sadly it doesn't get ridden as much as it use to, l do wish the price of these bikes reflected how good they are for a classic, l guess if it won a WSBK title it would have boosted it's appeal. Great video!!

[@RoadsOfOz]

Some good points there. But I am not a fan of lithium batteries for motorcycles. Thank you for watching. I agree that these bikes will make great classics one day. I am currently prepping one for track use. My first RSV was a beast on the track and gave me alot of confidence to go faster.

[@aussiewantok]

That's a really good review mate

[@RoadsOfOz]

Thank you.

[@captbarb6642]

I have seven gen 1 and of course love them to death . Every machine like you say needs love and servicing to be reliable you failed to mention that with the above they can reach over 100,000 miles which is like a honda. And yes in jeans in the summer time in traffic when the fans cut in your nuts will roast but not so much with leathers on. Ref the rear brake being poor is incorrect, it's poor and incorrect bleeding process look at the bleed nipple for a hint . My take away for the RSV is that era of bike the best engine in a sublime chassis. Oh your ref to the boot melting is correct if you have the aftermarket shotguns only which most don't I have size 11 and other cans it's fine . Good review thank you from a friendly pomme😂😂.

[@terrygrady7683]

You're right. My 2000.5 has 60000 on it. Runs great.

[@captbarb6642]

Is the miles or km I've been told at 60000 miles they reset to zero has that happened to you .

[@RoadsOfOz]

Thanks for that. It is always great to hear from owners. The bike I rode had higher kilometers and the motor felt great. Still accelerated crisply.

[@pauln6803]

There was a Futura with something like 250,000 miles on it that was still going strong, with nothing much more than the normal service work and a clutch or two. I'm fairly certain the Futura had the original Mille engine (the "gen 1" is better thought of as gen 1, gen 1.5 and the 03 being gen 1.5 rev 2 as they all had minor tweaks before the big "Honey I shrunk the Mille" SP2ish gen 2), with barely any detuning. The Rotax V60 does tend to lose oil vapour out the breather, so keeping an eye on the oil level is essential, but other than that it's generally thought of as being as strong as the Japanese if looked after.

[@Banditmanuk]

Love the looks and sound of the Aprilia, but at my size and bulk, I've steered clear of all sportsbikes for my whole riding career.

[@RoadsOfOz]

This is the first sportsbike I have ridden in years. I tend to stick with the more upright bikes these days too.

[@hachewie]

Damn they sound great. Oh man. V4 engines are beasts.

[@s737500]

Its a V2 :-)

[@hachewie]

@@s737500 Oh. Thanks. Still sounds awesome.

[@terranosrift7318]

lol stopped to comment when you talked about the sidestand, can confirm, as a young inexperienced salesman in the early 2000's I had the chance to take a Mille home a couple of times and it fell over on me and I had to sheepishly take it back the next day with a busted left side indicator and scratches, I thought I had the sidestand down properly but the bike said nope and went down in my carport, so embarassing.

[@RoadsOfOz]

Had my Gen 2 RSV fall over while parked at work. One $7000 repair bill later. Lucky I had insurance.

[@paul8161]

I completely agree with them not being as desirable as ducati, they are cheap to buy but not to look.after, I found out with mine. Didn't I ever. Wow... that aside it's a fabulous motor,, I must have got a made on Fri Need to get down the pub model because it needs things doing..but hey it's a old bike, it's got personality I guess 😂...I treat it like a queen I must admit I pat it down when I put the cover over her.😂..ohh and get a fireblade side stand from ap racing longer then the side stand it comes with.

[@perryburns6515]

Great review! I've always loved these but you've just pointed out why you'd be crazy to buy one these days. Did you say 2k for insurance!! Ffs that's out of control

[@RoadsOfOz]

Yeah Insurance in Australia is expensive. But in this bikes case for good reason. The body panels are no longer available new. I would shop around for insurance. These bikes are worth the effort.

[@jamesmx7]

Rear brake looks to need bleeding. Take the caliper off as the bleed nipple is on the bottom, which exactly where the air bubbles wont be 🥴

[@ItReallyIsYaBoi]

2-3k for insurance in Australia?? I got one last year in germany and need to pay about 200€ annually for insurance here...

[@RoadsOfOz]

I wish we had your insurers here in Australia.

[@frankvonmarees5913]

@@RoadsOfOz Then I might better not mention that I only pay less than 100€ for my Gen1. On the other hand I've been owning it for 16+years now, so insurance rates drop year after year.

[@cozzacan]

i love em, ripper fast

[@RoadsOfOz]

They are certainly quick enough.

[@malone-np3ip]

I own one there cool

[@RoadsOfOz]

They are a very cool bike. I ended up buying one.

[@johngriffin370]

this guys miles away with this review ,yes hes hit on a few common problems but looks like hes been jumping the Aprilia forums and picking up on some owners moans and you can see hes reading from notes in front of him .i could talk about these bikes all day but dont need to read from a page lol ,only poor kept bikes give problems and always new owners that dont have a clue how to keep a Mille the way it should be kept . and the first sign of a fault means the bikes are crap and a nightmare of a bike to own ,its bollocks these bikes are fantastic a true gem of a machine to own .trust me i know im now on gen 1 and No 7 to date ive had 7 gen 1`s and 1 gen 2 none of them have ever let me down or gave any problems worth talking about . always had that under dog tag but if you know how to ride them there awesome bits of kit .you can ride them hard all day long as i do most times .easy to service unless your a idiot ,some jobs do need the expert touch but most other jobs are just the same as most bikes .i do most of the work myself and im always pulling mine apart to service and clean not that it needs it but i just love tinkering and i know these bikes very well .its a well put together machine and pretty easy to work on well made body work unlike some others out there . my advice is if your looking to buy a gen 1 mille then make sure its the R model with all the goodies ie: all the right carbon bits ,the OZ wheels are a must ,full sexy ohlins kit . and best tip of all buy the higher priced ones that have been well looked after with all the common modifications done . buy cheap !! it`ll cost you in the long run . im also a huge gen 1 fan ever since i bought my first mille 18 years ago ,now i dont even look at other bikes they do nothing for me . rant over :)

[@RoadsOfOz]

Hi John. As you took the time to comment, I'll take the time to reply. Yes, I did a bit of research trying to find common issues with the bike (some I was aware of, some I was not). Problem is, the climate the bike is ridden also contributes to some of the issues that I mentioned. Here in Australia, most of the issues I mentioned regarding fueling issues were not a problem for Australians who owned an RSV. But ridden in an Australian summer, there were examples of electrical issues. These can be avoided by regularly checking the connections, but if you were to get the bike serviced at most workshops, I doubt they would be checking the connections (as it probably isn't in the service schedule). You also pointed out that I was "reading from notes". Well yes I was. When doing these used bike reviews, I tend to write down all the points that I need present. Normally, I would use a teleprompter (like alot of KZbinr do), but I thought it would be easier to read it off some printed notes (yes, a bit lazy on my part). You say "you could talk about these bikes all day but don't need to read from a page lol" Well, you have a channel, why don't you step up and do it? I look forward to see what you have to say. Maybe you could review other bikes as well (Do you think you would be able to do a review on those bikes without notes?, once again, you have the channel). So you bought your first Mille 18 years ago and you have had 7 of them since. Not the flex you think it is.As you were talking about how none of them let you down. How long did you own each of them? Do you still have them? and if not, why did you move them on? You say they are easy to service? Compared to what? I could name alot of bikes that are easier to service than an RSV of the same era. What jobs do you think need "the experts touch" ? Now I agree a poorly maintained one is best avoided. But even a well maintained one can develop problems too. Sadly in Australia, there were very few R models imported. I was informed only about 25 were bought to Australia the first year they were released. So they are very scarce here. I do look with a bit of envy seeing how much easier they are to find over in the UK. Now I agree with you, They are an underdog and a very sexy bike. So much so, I bought one and plan on using it for track days. I may even register it when it gets past the 30 year mark and put it on historic rego (excellent scheme here in my home state). I look forward to seeing your video talking about the your experience with RSV's.

[@DigiKiller]

I guess i wont be buying one then 😅

[@RoadsOfOz]

Treat yourself and buy one. Best value V twin from that era.

[@Zulu_117_ST]

Hell no 😂😂😂😂😂