5 Things I HATE About My Aprilia RSV4

[@guzziman]

Would you be as happy with the RS 660 or not ? Same look, smaller engine, smaller insurance and maybe other cost, less performance, less bragging rights, but still hell of a bike...... wonder what your thoughts would be since you spent a lot of time on both???

[@PetroHead]

I don’t endorse buying an Aprilia.. period. Shit company, shit service, shit warranty and constantly breaking down. Prove me wrong. (I sold it cuz of all the reasons above) The backstory: I am going to pin your comment because I recently sold the bike and need to get this off my chest. I was very tired of the terrible service from my local dealer (GP). They denied me the warranty claiming that now it's a race bike and I have to go through a race schedule which is complete BS just because I had a pipe and a tune installed. It is ONLY a race bike if it lives at the track and just because it has a tune and a pipe doesn't make it a race bike. Even the biggest Aprilia dealer in the nation agreed with me (continue reading). However, to avoid covering the warranty which happened to be an OIL LEAK, they told me that I will need to do the 12K service interval NOW (bike only had 5700 miles!!) and all of the oil leaks will be fixed as well. In other words, we deny you the warranty and if you want this to be fixed, you must pay for a 12-15 hour job @ $130 per hour. I emailed Aprilia and through a week of back and forth, they agreed to fix the bike under warranty and this is ONLY after I sent them a screenshot of Ed Cooks email in which he wrote me back that a pipe and a tune has NOTHING to do with oil leaking nor does a pipe and a tune make it a race bike unless its track prepped with all of the mileage being track / race miles.. Why isn't this obvious? Oh I don't know.. maybe to use a tune and a pipe as an excuse to TAKE ADVANTAGE of unsuspecting customers by charging a large sum of money? From DAY ONE, I had issues with this RSV4. Service was TERRIBLE every-single-time! I may never own another Aprilia ever again because of the horrible service I've experienced (Unless one day I move to Texas.. Ed Cook / AF1 are TOP!) I suggest you go back to my Aprilia playlist and watch from the beginning because this is my SECOND Aprilia. The first one, right out of the parking lot broke down with 0 miles. This second one, only under 1000 miles I started to experience issues, and MANY days / months of time lost in the service department and most recently, the headache of convincing service / Aprilia to do the right thing for an oil leak which is a very common fault on these bikes. If you or any of your buddies every owned an Aprilia, the #1 talking points are reliability (a lack thereof) and oil leaks. No one should go through this with a 20K bike and NO ONE should do their own "customer service" by going through Aprilia and beg them to honor their warranty.. The dealer should FIGHT for us and provide an HONEST service. PROVE to me that my pipe and tune caused the oil leak on a bike that consistently has this issue? It's impossible... They know it, I know it and YOU know it. The fact is, every dealer handles service differently and you won't find out until you actually need it. This is what makes ownership really risky because there is no standard customer service protocol amongst Aprilia dealers. You're simply at the mercy of your local dealer and their discretion. It is of my opinion that most of the time, they call the shots when it comes to warranty repairs and they just bill Aprilia. Aprilia being a boutique brand doesn't have the resources to deal with every single issue that these bikes go through so it is up to the dealers to call the shots. Sometimes you will get ripped off (I almost did) and other times, you will land yourself a reputable dealer (AF1.. Ed Cooks shop) but its difficult to know. Want my advice? Stick to BMW / Ducati (owned by Audi.. GERMAN backing) and Japanese bikes or all together, stay away from EU bikes (Triumph UK company does make very reliable bikes though) But hey.. If you're feeling risky and are an emotional buyer and GOTTA HAVE ONE because of XYZ.. then buy it but don't say I didn't warn you! I would also recommend finding an independent shop that handles Aprilia in case the dealer tries screws you. Dealers will use "modifications" as an excuse to charge loads of money and avoid going the Aprilia warranty route because they get the money right away and they won't have to bother with dealer network bureaucracies. And finally.. I was going to make a video about this but you know what? I've wasted enough time and have given this company enough sales through my 30+ videos and have received only grief in return. I'll leave this here for anyone who cares. I'm moving on and hopefully buying another bike soon. PS: If it were a reliable bike and service was honest, I would have kept it for another 5 years but at this point I can’t recommend Aprilia to anyone. What a shame.

[@guzziman]

@@PetroHead Oh shit... did not realize you sold it... Looking forward to the video "Why I sold my Aprillia"... and all the details of the ownership experience... This is why i follow all your channels from early the days... HONESTY !!!!! Hard to find these days...

[@PetroHead]

@@guzziman I think I will make that video when I get another bike which hopefully is soon. Until then, just taking a breather from all this. I'm actually relieved it got sold because mentally, I was stressed. (new owner knows about fixed oil leak and he's cool with it)

[@AYYOFLOCKA]

@@PetroHead Hey dude, we all have that bike. For me it was a KTM Duke 790 I bought in 2020. Thing had problems every 600-800 miles including the whole bike locking up because the wiring loom shorted. Local dealer was absolutely ass and I vowed never to buy a KTM ever again and sold it (Was very good as the whole KTM camshaft thing started rearing its head afterwards) MY 21/22 was a bit notorious for the RSV4 (covid years manufacturing) nothing will sway you, but my point is it happens. Hope your next bike gives you some peace of mind.

[@PetroHead]

This is why I suggest staying away from all EU based bikes (apart from triumph.. super reliable British bike).🏍️ Btw.. had an RC390 cup.. engine issues at the track.. three months at the dealer until I got it back.

[@veizii6096]

I’ve never rode before and want one of these solely based on how good it sounds 😭🔥

[@mohammedal-ahdal9683]

I bought a brand new Aprilia RS 660 Extrema in May 2023, and I live in Germany. I will list the cost for you in Dollar, the cost of oil change is 105 and I need to change it every 10k as per the dealer unless I go to the track then I need to do it every 5k miles which I do anyhow, the tires cost around 350 for a set of tires but I still did not change them although I ran for almost 8k miles. The front brake pads with installation also cost around 150 as a maximum which I still did not change as well. My riding style is aggressive but still did not go to the track on this bike. I never had any issue since I bought it. The heat is an issue but never goes beyond the fourth strip on my dashboard while at traffic light. The maximum temperature here is around 36 C in summer, not sure about the US. I did the first service and it cost me around 250. The RSV4 is not far away from those numbers by the way. I hope that an owner of an RS 660 confirm the numbers in US.

[@PetroHead]

I own an RSV4 and I ride hard and track. My estimates aren’t for RS660 owners.

[@pistolpete6321]

I live in Texas and owned 2 Tuono’s, 2016 and 2019 and they ran very hot in the summer, 220 temp so not the best for city riding. Yup these bikes go through a lot of tires but that said I didn’t have any problems with either bike. I bought the RS660 last August and while it’s not as fast as the liter bikes, it’s fun, light, quick, lower maintenance costs and doesn’t run hot. Agree, Ed Cook is an honest guy and runs an amazing top notch dealership here in Austin.

[@bobc3144L]

I bought a new 2022 Tuono V4 RR from Reparto Veloce in Chandler AZ. They are a great Aprilia dealership. I highly recommend them. And yes, I absolutely love the Tuono. Graves exhaust, Gabro tune/airbox, forged wheels. What a neat bike!

[@BigEbikesports]

I have a 2024 RSV4 Factory, it came with the Supercorsa V3 tires to answer your question. I too have a race ECU from AF1 and Sparks pipe. -1/+1 on the sprockets, stiffer Ohlins shock spring for my weight. I also deleted the charcoal canister and EVAP solenoid. I am sure that I will have issues with warranty if the need arises but I am a certified mechanic and do all my own services and repairs. These bikes are so lean with the Euro5 emissions. It is a shame that manufacturers are so reluctant to take care of their customers that keep them in business.

[@PetroHead]

Ed Cook is a good person and I think you won't have any warranty issues. They are also the largest Aprilia dealership in North America.

[@jonathanmichaels8331]

Please keep making videos. I’m in my 40’s (live in Dubai) and am considering getting a race licence. Also I’m shortlisting a big bike (zx10r, gsx1000rr, rsv4 factory). Your input helps a lot.

[@PetroHead]

Of course.. just taking a break because I sold the Aprilia… If you want to be able to race, stay away from Aprilia. Mine died on me on a track day.. wasted $1000 and 8 hours of my life round trip.

[@dtiger3326]

Yeah I bought my 24 Tuono Factory from AF1 in Austin they were super helpful. I had them put on the Akro exhaust... only problem I have is can't find neutral when you want to. kinda wish I went with the SC shorty.. but maybe save it for the RSV4.

[@johnnyhun1]

does installing full exhaust and ecu remapping makes this bike unreliable?

[@icyGrip666]

Haven't had to deal with the dealership or warrenty thing yet but my biggest thing is how how the bike gets. I live in florida so it gets really hot if stuck in traffic. That being said i absolutely love the rsv4 factory.

[@SquireSCA]

Oil doesn't need to be changed every 3 months. 3k miles, yes, but oil isn't milk, it doesn't spoil that quick. haha Completely agree on reliability and service with dealers, getting parts, etc... Aprilia is one of the worst companies in those areas. The valves are a weak point, specifically the valve guides on the rear cylinders... If you ride the bike hard and do track days, you NEED to do the valves every 6k miles, which is incredibly expensive... Failure to do so, can have you replacing one or both heads... I love Aprilia, the sound, their design language and their heritage... but they are the typical small boutique Italian manufacturer... The bikes are glorious to look at and ride, but to own long term... not so much. You 100% don't want to own one that isn't under warranty. And even then, it can be like pulling teeth to get them to make it right. Oh, and name a motor that sounds as good? Yamaha CP4. I had a 2017 Tuono V4 1100rr and a 2021 R1, and to me they sound nearly the same.

[@DorianGRMC]

I have owned the 23 RSV4 Factory for a year now. Not a single issue. I hope it remains the same.

[@icool247]

How man miles on it?

[@DorianGRMC]

@@icool247 8000 miles now. Done 5 track days.

[@lucaric6935]

@@DorianGRMC any issues so far, leaks etc

[@DorianGRMC]

@@lucaric6935 Nothing. These bikes should not be stored in the sitting room and stared at. They perform better when ridden hard. No one in our group members has had issues with theirs.

[@PetroHead]

@@DorianGRMC Every-single-mile of my RSV4 was ridden hard and yet it shat on me multiple times with the last one, pissing oil away with smoke coming out of the front. 50% of you are lucky the other are like me. buy at your own risk. 50/50 are not good odds.

[@BillyCross-d5v]

Great video I know what you mean about the service cost , I have Ducati 899 which probably not as expensive as the Aprilia but still it’s too expensive.i do all work myself but it just the valve check that’s the bad bit , your channel is the best keep it up your a legend 😉👍👍👍

[@MAGAidiot-r6e]

Thank you......this was a very informative video

[@cootercooter5295]

AF1 has been great for parts. I believe we've taken our RSV4s to the same dealer and I've struggled with them too. Great buying experience but poor service department.

[@PetroHead]

Your experience good / bad is found out most of the time when you’re in need of help. This is when it counts the most. Unfortunately, you can’t tell until after you’ve purchased and then a need arises. Oh well. We need a diverse selection of dealers who sell these bikes and not a monopoly like we have here in SD. This is how service gets better through competition.

[@cootercooter5295]

@PetroHead I ended up just not going through them. Was trying to get some assistance for an oil leak coming from somewhere and they saw the slip on and said it won't be covered under warranty becauseof the exhaust. Got upset and left, mainly since the "600" mile service they "updated" my ecu but my upmap said otherwise. Had to schedule another visit in which I was charged for an update. I'll either do the work myself or get some reputable dealer nearby in Temecula.

[@PetroHead]

Wow.. exact same thing with me. I ended up going through the Aprilia email route and after several attempts at convincing them got it fixed. What a pain! How long has it been since the leak and has it come back?

[@cootercooter5295]

One of the leaks was the drain plug. Ordered a new one from AF1 and that leak has stopped. Also swapped some Aprilia hose clamps for some worm style ones and that has cleared up any leaks from the bottom end. There another one up higher but it's not bad enough. Gonna do the valve adjustment here soon so most of the top end gaskets will be replaced. If it still leaks I'll just say that "it's a feature of Aprilias"

[@PetroHead]

How many miles and who is doing your valve checks?

[@kupalisky3553]

Hey I have a LeoVince LV10 exhaust on my tuono. you think it would be worth it to switch to CRT?

[@PetroHead]

Save your money

[@movem1]

Thanks for sharing the truth. It’s a race bike, insane they would give you a hard time about a pipe with a proper tune. Good on ya for exceeding in communication skills. 👍👊

[@PetroHead]

Put a race tune and race pipe on a race bike? Preposterous! I’m such a negligent owner to customize my bike and enjoy it as my right.

[@gertjanweststrate7267]

In genaral the service level drops. Cars, bikes, whatever you name it. Dealerships and manufacturers are using the small print to escape responsibility for their products. Off course there are exceptions, and they do well.

[@Fitness-adventure]

Not the case in Europe mate. Service is excellent in Europe

[@jeanmilaalvarez]

Superbe vidéo merci ❤❤❤❤

[@treywilson7404]

Stuck between a panigale v4 and rsv4 for long term ownership which one would you recommend

[@PetroHead]

Pani if you have the money.

[@simonquinton925]

I have had 5 panigales. The last was a 2023 V5S. All were superb. But the RSV Factory is really a sensation. Ape for now from now on. I also have an RS660 now too.

[@PetroHead]

@simonquinton925 Ya, if all I ever had were good girl librarians, I too will be up for a sexy stripper with tats who isn't afraid to show up at a wet t-shirt contest lol.. but its the librarian I'll end up marrying in the end because she's reliable and probably had a good upbringing. My 0.2 cents on the Panigale -vs- RSV4 debate.

[@gunmenow]

Which liter bike is the coolest running one? S1k or Japanese ones?

[@PetroHead]

No one has ever complained about an S1K or R1 overheating or running too hot.

[@gunmenow]

@@PetroHead seriously, they should redesign the cooling system of rsv4 and panigale, it’s damaging manhood lol

[@PetroHead]

Hahaha.. good one. I agree.

[@Cozmik0]

No way you have to change your tires that often that's insane 💀 You'd have to ride hard all the time or do track days regularly like you mentioned for that to be the case. If you ride normally, I doubt it eats tires that quickly

[@PetroHead]

I bought an 1100 and I am going to use all of it. Lol 😂

[@Cozmik0]

@@PetroHead Seems like it lol! Hope the tires are burning too big a hole in your wallet!

[@roadtoad3484]

Hey! what was the issue with your bike? It's been 4 weeks and still no video explaining this.

[@PetroHead]

It was leaking oil. Sorry I’ve been busy.

[@roadtoad3484]

@@PetroHead Wow thanks for the quick reply! Where was it leaking? I just bought a new left over model 2023 factory from GP Motorcycles

[@PetroHead]

Several places. Good luck with service.

[@Kevin-mm6xm]

I like your videos and the bike looks great but your estimates on parts seems really high, especially the oil change. "$280.00 at the dealer for an oil change but I don't mind paying $100.00 more for them to do it." Oil is NOT $180.00 and Mobile 1 is only $44.00 for 4 quarts. Throw in a $12.00 filter when needed and you're at $56.00 vs $280.00 for the dealer to do a simple oil change. Brakes too. Pads are available for less than $50.00 per set x 3 = $150.00 and easy to do. You just have to learn how which anyone with enough smarts to afford a $20,000 motorcycle should be able to do no problem!

[@PetroHead]

That’s what my dealer charges.. I am not making it up. I run a business, I use my brain not my hands. I earn more per hour than what dealers charge so why bother.

[@Kevin-mm6xm]

@@PetroHead That's fine and if you choose that route it's all good, but knowing how and working on your bike to me is part of the fun of motorcycling, and saves a lot of money!

[@PetroHead]

If it’s fun, than great but I won’t trade time to save money. Time is far more valuable because it doesn’t regenerate like money does.

[@MrCovert23]

Sounds great , but quality on these not so great.

[@PetroHead]

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below.

[@oscarmerlos2189]

Hey brother, hope everything is good. Yes, you are right I have the rs660 and plaining on getting the rsv4, but so far, I had some issues with the rs660. It took long time to get it repair like 4 months all this because we were waiting for parts. As much i do love the Aprilia bikes I am thinking twice before buying the Rsv4. thanks for the video!

[@MonTuToRFF]

Try the Honda 125

[@garethdawson9830]

People who purchase these bikes understand the prices.

[@migueldelaguardia]

On my 2016 rsv4 rf one front tire for every two rear tires.10k miles front 5k miles rear

[@PetroHead]

Impressive but are you doing track days or ride hard? SC tires wear quick. What tire are you running? I’m on my 2nd set in 5K miles.

[@Jagannath-kc1re]

2:29 😂

[@molarmassz]

$700-$800 for 1 set of tyres?? I think you might be getting ripped off for rosso corsa 3s...

[@michaeljkasnter]

It’s not 230-HP😂

[@brianweir1366]

Are you happy with the finish of the bike? I've seen a lot of others complain about the plastics on this bike. If you get there chance, you must check out the new fireblade. Possibly the best looking litre bike out there (stock), but it's 6k more then the RSV4 factory where I live. With Ducati updating their Panigali V4, do you think Aprilia will update their RSV4?

[@PetroHead]

Plastics aren’t bad actually, I can’t complain and I have no clue if a new RSV4 will come out. Before they do that though, they need to focus on reliability as #1 concern of owners. Some are pure lucky.. other like myself aren’t. This creates loss of confidence in the brand, especially when you need support and support flat out denies coverage until you do your own customer service by convincing Aprilia to do what’s right.

[@brianweir1366]

​@@PetroHeadYou've definitely been unlucky with the RSV4. I'm glad at least in the end it sounds like they did the right thing, it would be interesting to know if it's the dealer or the manufacturer who was pushing back against your claim. You're right regarding reliability, once your brand is painted with that brush it's very hard to get rid of it. Now that Aprilia is doing better financially, they'd be smart to focus on that. Japanese brands may not be considered as "innovative" lately as other countries brands but at least they can give you a "trouble free" experience for the most part. I've got 2 small kids and a language barrier to deal with, I don't want to have those kind of problems if possible.