Aprilia RSV Mille
a lairy bike needs a lairy colour!
Of the foursome on test, there’s no doubt the Aprilia has aged the best. This specific RSV belongs to Phil; probably the best RSV owner known to man. Phil took his car off the road last year and uses the Mille for his commute, hacking through South Wales and into Gloucester daily, taking the scenic route for kicks. Despite the hideous red screen and high mileage, this bike looks and rides like a boss.
From the factory-look swingarm, and pukka wheels, to the racy curves and can, the Mille looks fast. And a lairy bike needs a lairy colour. This yellow is far from mellow...
You may remember this bike from a test in FB last year. Well, the standard state has been altered slightly, as in comes a new MWR air filter to go with the open airbox and a remapped ECU. Phil has also modified the exhaust. The result is a rowdy concoction of induction blare and a performance upgrade of a few ponies – all for around £250.
The standard RSV should deliver around 120bhp in today’s climate, but it sounds like 150bhp. The induction bark is colossal on board. As standard it's loud, but Phil’s bike feels like a tank will explode beneath you, shattering the peace wherever you go. If the soundtrack was available on vinyl, it’d get several rewinds.
The motor, amid its laboured
lifetime, still feels crisp and willing today. It fuels well enough at the bottom, then throughout the range, producing a delivery that apes a turbine. While peak power will only just see it past a modern supersport bike, and the top-end does get numb towards the redline, it delivers the midrange blow – and a sucker punch to the others – that never gets boring.
Ducati motors of a similar generation spin quickly with a light sensation, feeling like there's little inertia. Here, the Aprilia’s Rotax lump is far more agricultural, slightly more lethargic, but it pulls hard when you're stretching the cable. The throttle is heavy, but precise, lending superb rear wheel connectivity to generate confidence.
The Aprilia’s powerplant and ancillaries aren’t as fluid as the Japanese bikes. The gearbox is defined, but heavy, and the rest of the controls are marginally awkward. You need to grab the RSV and butcher it to extract the best.
You’re perched in, rather than on, the Mille, which subtracts a little of the aggression. The v-twin allows an anorexic feel over the cumbersome Japanese four-pots when you're astride it. Don’t forget, Aprilia produced the Mille at the height of the firm’s GP domination in the smaller classes – the Noale factory knew then, as it does now, how to build a sweet handling chassis. A lot can depend on the state of a used bike’s suspension and a murky, hidden past, but the RSV still steers brilliantly, quick and accurate. The front-end insists on continuous punishment, and although the shock can get fatigued over time, the RSV’s balance remains flawless. With a wide set-up spectrum, the suspension is every bit as good as the trick Mille R’s Öhlins. There’s a bit of pitching on the brakes, but the RSV tracks most surfaces beautifully.