Just found this forum and registered today. I am living in New Zealand (Excellent roads away from the main highways) and have for two years owned a 2000 RSV1000 Mille in bright red (silver belly pan). In it's first 7 years it travelled less than 11000 Kilometres and I have run another 9000 on it since Dec 2006. I tend to ride alone as I prefer fast riding on weekdays when there is less traffic, less police on the open roads.
Around 1999 - 2002 I helped with the running of an RSV1000 race bike. The bike had reasonable success in the hands of one of the country's fastest riders despite the lack of performance kit parts availability. The bike was always a crowd puller and crowd pleaser due to it's distinctive roar and ability to compete with more powerful Japanese 1000cc fours.
I just love the way my RSV allows me to ride at the pace I feel like at the time. I can attack a piece of tight twisty road and use the lower gears or hold in 3rd or 4th and let the brilliant torque to haul me through. The benefit of the latter style is the great growl coming from the red ART exhaust can. The other approach provides easy wheelies - very controllable.
My wish list would be in order;
a fork kit to provide much improved compliance - more supple compression damping,
an Ohlins rear unit with remote preload knob adjuster,
and just maybe some lighter wheels.
I haven't yet ridden a later model RSV-R or Factory with the 140+HP engine which has bigger throttle bodies but I rather like the older style fairing and frame. I think the upper body protection would be less on the sleeker new models. Anybody comment? While I think the 04 models on look smart enough (certainly in some of the bolder colour schemes) they just look too similar to Jap 1000 bikes.
The previous owner of my bike really looked after it and fitted the Power Commander computer and (I think) the ART exhaust can which combined give the engine a really beefy lower - midrange torque curve. It growls purposefully from 4000, starts to get into it's real work from 6000 through to the limiter at I think 10500. He sold it to move to something a little more sport/touring oriented (Guzzi1100 Sport) but was sadly cleaned up by a drunk in a horror smash that killed 3 good motorcyclists. Prayers to Simon and his friends and their families. The RSV lives and I am surprised how long I have been able to live with a sports machine.
Is the RSV1000R being phased out in favour of the new 90 degree engine range? Would be a shame as the Mille has been a wonderful institution in motorcycling for nearly 10 years. It was a milestone (no pun intended) bike and won worldwide admiration and most of the bike of the year awards. Since it was introduced I always wanted one and riding the first model in 1999 sold me on them. I still get a big charge out of a ride on my favourite road.
|
