Thread: First Impressions - Aprilia SXV 550

Originally Posted by evl_twn

Hey, I already posted pics in the other thread! I'll get some more for you tomorrow. In the meantime, check out this "stealth" one a guy in Germany has. I'm not sure why his chain is hanging...

Great timing... we were just at the Aprilia dealer here in San Diego looking at the RXV and SXV yesterday.

They are very sexy bikes, but we were wondering how they were to ride.

Originally Posted by navydevildoc

Great timing... we were just at the Aprilia dealer here in San Diego looking at the RXV and SXV yesterday.

They are very sexy bikes, but we were wondering how they were to ride.

Yeah, as NDD will tell you, the RXV was really speaking to me...enough that I was looking at what I'd sell out of the garage to go plunk down the AMEX.

We got back to his house and he told his roommate I was going to buy one....

That reminds me, I gotta go get the CR up on Craigslist...

They do look sexy, but the sound and particularly the ride is even more seductive. I can't yet speak to the reliability, but if it's even halfway decent in that department, I'm completely stoked. This is one wicked machine.

I just read a Dirt Rider review and they said the 550 was way scary on dirt.

How many HP is that thing supposed to make? The 450 is around 55.

I also read the fork, swingarm, and other bits are different between the two. So buying an RXV and getting the SXV stuff to bolt on for a trackday looks like a futile cause.

Originally Posted by bwhip

They do look sexy, but the sound and particularly the ride is even more seductive. I can't yet speak to the reliability, but if it's even halfway decent in that department, I'm completely stoked. This is one wicked machine.

If it's like the rest of Aprilia's products, they will be pretty damn reliable. The only thing that has busted on mine was when I recently had to swap the battery because it sat without a tender for a long time.

Originally Posted by luvtolean

I just read a Dirt Rider review and they said the 550 was way scary on dirt.

How many HP is that thing supposed to make? The 450 is around 55.

I also read the fork, swingarm, and other bits are different between the two. So buying an RXV and getting the SXV stuff to bolt on for a trackday looks like a futile cause.

I've read mixed reviews on the dirt performance of the RXV 550. The throttle response is supposed to be pretty abrupt, which doesn't make for a great trailie. For those that like to slide the rear end around, it's fine, but it's not for everyone.

If you look at the SXV and RXV side-by-side, you can see they're a fair amount different. The RXV sits a lot taller, obviously, but like you said, there are other significant differences as well, including gearing.

Here are a couple of excellent sites if you want to do more research on both:
2006-2007 Aprilia RXV, SXV 4.5/5.5 V-Twins - ApriliaForum sponsored by AF1 Racing, inc.

SLORider—San Luis Obispo Dirt Bike Rider Website (Aprilia/KTM/DR-Z400)

Originally Posted by bwhip

Here are a couple of excellent sites if you want to do more research on both:
2006-2007 Aprilia RXV, SXV 4.5/5.5 V-Twins - ApriliaForum sponsored by AF1 Racing, inc.

SLORider—San Luis Obispo Dirt Bike Rider Website (Aprilia/KTM/DR-Z400)

The Aprilia Forum is an excellent resource. I have been on that board for a while now.

Yeah, I surfed it earlier. I didn't like it too much to be honest and bailed.

Plus, it was running real slow...

Completed the first mods today. I didn't want to proceed with them until I was sure the thing actually ran.

New ProTaper bars, gel-type grips, Acerbis handguards, and some pretty trick little bits from Supermoto Engineering - axle sliders for the front, along with axle block sliders and red spacers for the rear.

It's killing me that it's raining and cold outside (and supposed to do the same all week). I really want to be out playing and breaking that baby in. Instead I get to strip bathroom wallpaper and go to the office for a bit.

Awesome bike whip!
That engine should really deliver in higher rev areas that thumpers have always had trouble with.

How does riding a supermotard at a track day compare to a race rep type of bike?
Would any of you who have done this be satisfied with only a bike like this Aprilia as their only track bike?

Originally Posted by Leelover

Awesome bike whip!
That engine should really deliver in higher rev areas that thumpers have always had trouble with.

How does riding a supermotard at a track day compare to a race rep type of bike?
Would any of you who have done this be satisfied with only a bike like this Aprilia as their only track bike?

Thanks!

Supermotos are a blast at the track, but probably more so on tighter tracks than long, flowing ones. On a tight track a skilled supermoto rider could smoke the average sportbike rider, because the bikes are so light and easy to maneuver through the tight stuff. On long straights is where the sportbikes have the advantage with greater horsepower and wind protection.

I wouldn't want to choose between the two types, as I'll always love sportbikes and dragging my knee, but this sure is a fun alternative.

I don't know if you would have to choose between the two...
From the looks of things you could show up at a track and have your choice of several bikes who's riders would be happy to swap out with you whenever you wanted.

Thats a super sweet toy.

I want one!

Well, another bwhip bike to envy him over !

It's been really cold here this week, with snow and rain on and off, so it's been really tough to ride much. Today it creeped up into the low 40's with no precip, so I took four brief rides on this baby (until my fingers were totally frozen).

I'm up to about 125 miles on it, still in the break-in period, so I'm still taking it pretty easy. This is probably a good thing, because it doesn't take much of a twist of the wrist to send the front wheel skyward.

It's ridiculous! What an absolute blast to ride. Just an absolute terror, with so much power it's downright scary (in a good way ).

The gearbox has become absolutely buttery. Maybe the smoothest I've ever experienced. That twin motor is really smooth, with less vibration than the bigger singles I've ridden.

It's still starting right up every time, which is a relief!

I spent a little time with it in the dirt today as well, and I'm impressed. I just find that I really need to be judicious with the throttle, as it has absolutely mad power.

I can't wait to get it fully broken in, and to get it out on a track. I am VERY impressed with this bike.

Is the power delivery more radical than the old 2 smoker 500cc MX bikes?

Originally Posted by Leelover

Is the power delivery more radical than the old 2 smoker 500cc MX bikes?

Not as violent. It's buttery smooth while it propels you to mind-blowing speeds.

I liked this post from one of the Aprilia forums, about a guy taking a test drive on the SXV550:

I went to a different aprilia dealer today here in Zurich. He's a little outside of town, and he was closed for the winter, so this was my first time there.

The owner and I really hit it off, and (surprise, surprise) he loved my trick Tuono. I ordered a couple bits from him, told him my other bike was a Duke II, and frankly, I much prefer riding SM than sport bikes.

conversation continued, and he insisted that I ride his SXV. He assured me I would be impressed, but really.... how impressive could it be? Check my sig below, I'm no stranger to SMs... granted the Duke certainly is no SM, but I've ridden track-prepped bikes from Husky, Husa, and KTM... In reality, power is generally within the same range.... delivery can vary, ergo, angles, etc.... but there tends not to be too much to set them apart from eachother.

I gave-in and threw a leg over.

I realize this is nothing new to you guys.... but.....

Holy fuck-me-sideways batman.

This fucking bike is in a class of its own. I have never ridden anything with such a brutal amount of power. I simply couldn't believe how fast I was going... how quickly I got there. It ran straight as an arrow, but the milisecond you leaned in, you're ripping donuts... really sticky donuts.

The breaks were phenomenal. I did a 75mph stoppie. And not only does the front break rip, but the rear break is also very, very strong.

The power delivery, after a few minutes of adjusting, seemed really smooth and manageable too. Albeit, the most uncomfortable bike I have ever ridden... I might get used to it.

Daddy likes.... daddy likes a lot. I'm gonna get one before the summer starts. Exhaust (probably GPR), anti-hopper.... anything else mandatory..?

you guys have a really scary bike. seriously... that is an unsafe motorcycle. fuck... I love it.

dougan.

SXV550 a competitive road racer?

Press release from AB-1 Motorsports

March 14th, 2006

An Aprilia 550 was ridden to its first road race win last weekend at VIR. Scott Carpenter, a road race professional from Raleigh NC piloted the Italian V-Twin at the opening WERA round. Carpenter, an accomplished privateer has won five national championships and many individual races in his career and ranks high in the Privateer (non-factory sponsored) group. After the race Carpenter commented, “Wow, I had no idea these bikes can go this fast. That last race we did (Clubman), will be one I will remember for a long time!”

Aaron Brown, owner of AB-1 Motorsports was also excited. “We are a V-Twin specialty race shop working on Ducati motorcycles for many years,” said Aaron. “When I first got my hands on one of these Aprilia V-Twins I knew I was getting into something special and to have Scott pilot one on its maiden race and win on a bone stock unit except for its Pirelli race tires, well, I’m pretty excited and the competitors better watch out.” The VIR track is not an easy track to race with elevation changes, blind turns and a long wide open straight. “It was a good test track for us and it showed us how much potential the platform has” continued Aaron. “We’re going to start working on some performance areas and see just how good we can make it over the course of the year.”

Cool!

Would that be against SV's and such? Pretty impressive.

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Would that be against SV's and such? Pretty impressive.

I was wondering about that too. I know that the "Clubman" series at Miller is for people on street bikes that just want to give racing a try. Rules are more relaxed regarding bike prep and so on. Not sure if that's how this was or not.