15-04-14, 09:57 PM
Answering your specific points, there are plenty of + 50k mile Aprilia's out there and my RSV has tarnished far less than pretty much anything else we've had - it's not an R version, but it comes with plastic covered braided stainless steel brake lines (so do the Tuono's) and lively thick lacquer on the frame/swinging arm. On top of that, it's brake calipers (brembo's) don't seize at the first hint of rain.
To be fair, mine has been ridden quite hard (about 5000 miles on the Nurburgring) and it's been used for touring in Europe plenty and it's been totally reliable - I honestly don't think a GSXR or R1 would have survived the use in such good condition, still feeling "tight".
The "rumours" of un-reliability are just that. The UK Aprilia guru (Griff) used to do a column for Classic and Motorcycle Mechanics and knows the bikes inside out - ask him about reliability if you feel the need (Aprila Performance at Tamworth).
To be fair, mine has been ridden quite hard (about 5000 miles on the Nurburgring) and it's been used for touring in Europe plenty and it's been totally reliable - I honestly don't think a GSXR or R1 would have survived the use in such good condition, still feeling "tight".
The "rumours" of un-reliability are just that. The UK Aprilia guru (Griff) used to do a column for Classic and Motorcycle Mechanics and knows the bikes inside out - ask him about reliability if you feel the need (Aprila Performance at Tamworth).