Hi everyone!
I’m just about to buy a bike and I’m after a change, in the fact that I want a twin instead of an inline four. I’m looking at a 2000 SP-1 or a 02/03 RSV-R and I’m torn between the Honda reputation and the Aprilia’s exotic parts. Does anyone ride one of these bikes or has ridden one, as any help in deciding will be greatly appriciated!
Cheers
Paul
RSV fo me.
SP1! It’s a proper race bike 
Just get one with a power-commander to sort the dodgy fuelling. Aprilia’s of that area have trouble when it rains
RSV for me. Only cos I picked up my mille yesterday from Brands.
I think the SP-2 is the better of the two SPs.
I’m not an expert but as Jay says above the SP is no compromise, just racing out and out.
And yes I will only be going out in the dry on my rsv!
RSV defo.
The Honda’s a nice bike, its pure HRC, the engineering is lovely…for a Honda, but its pants. Its uncomfortable, first gear is so tall its stupid, second’s not much better, and the rest are just quick fire gears, the pillion seats a joke…oh yeah the handling’s dodgy hence the SP2…its safer to walk than ride an SP1 in the rain.
Its a completely different beastie to the RSV…the Aprillia has stupendous low down grunt mixed with amazing grip/traction…the SP1 is’nt…rev its tits off, but mind the damp patch
choice is your at the end of the day…but I’ve ridden all 3 (SP2) and RSV every time…and ignore Jay…mine never broke down…it never had a problem in heavy rain,light rain,snow…and mine was the second RSV in the country! Yes it has a problem with ‘water’ and thats when some people clean them they soak the electrics 
so DONT pour buckets of water directly onto the electrics,bet most bikes would have that problem
…and if you get a RSV-R you get all the goodies Ohlins, carbon, Brembos
…buy and SP1/2 and you get…an HRC sticker…yay 
http://www.two.tv/BikeSelecta_Home.asp not much to say about the Honda then…
Have a guy I know who has an 02 RSV and given the bike hell for 28 thousand miles without a problem. IMO the RSV is the one you want 
After all the other is a Honda 
and not a Suzuki 
Thanks for your replys.
I think it’s going to be a RSV-R then! as I don’t have enough money for an SP-2. Thanks babyj for the advice, as I doubt there is many who have ridden all three bikes, and as I will be riding a bit in town at times this could be a pain in the arse, although people have said any twins a pain in the arse to ride slowly.
Could the Honda’s problem of gearing be sorted by changing the sprockets? then do I want to be fannying around getting it sorted just to ride the bloody thing!
Iv’e just gone out to the shops and found that Ride mag has done an article on them! what timing. It has said there are problems getting parts though, anyone heard of this? and that the clutch needs bleeding every 1000 miles, but the engines are bullet proof though.
What year did you get meeks?
Will have to see what comes up for sale soon.
Thanks again!
Just read the TWO article, it’s a no brainer really is it!
I’d buy an SP1. They are a pure part of history and are sure to be a collectors item in the future. An awsome bit of kit!
Have a look here: http://www.motosportaprilia.com/
I’ve just got a Factory from there and Ivan is a real nice guy. There are 2 bikes to look at, an 02 and an 04. Have fun
Shame you can’t buy the twin in Niceday’s avatar!
I rode a SP1 with a pc - reworked forks and wp shock -it was nice, but very revvy for a twin.
The RSV is nice as std - more traditional power delivery.
Tall - feels a little top heavy - but you soon get used to it.
RSV-factory is VERY nice.
2003, 03 reg. Not the ‘r’, but you still get a great base package. The new R is the base now I think, with the factory being the cream.
I would suggest you take a test ride and see if you like the riding position of the RSV. I do, but it was far more extreme than my 2004 SV thou. Breaks are pretty sharp in my view but some say the brembos on the rsv were disappointing. The back break is useless however, and the tales of electrical problems are worth listening to, but then if little niggles are not a problem and your not going to ride it every day its not a problem.
Check out the RSV owners club and get on there, I did, and it helped me a lot with questions for the dealer and previous owner befoer I stumped up the cash.
I think you can buy on of Britten’s if you want. Last one I was told was sold for a 6fig price 
But from I’ve been told there is only a couple around so little chance of going up the ace on a Rizla/R1/Blade and having 6 other ones up there
I rode an RSV 1000 (06 model) on a test ride last year and I loved it.
Very compact but a little heavier than the inline 4s I’ve been used to…Not much mind…Amazing build quality…Looks the ********
Power delivery was very smooth and linear…Caught me out because of this…Was going way above the speed limit and didn’t notice until looking at the clocks.
Brakes were progressive and eefective…Didn’t find them so sharp that they’d have you pulling by accident, but they only needed a one or two finger press for serious stopping.
Only thing I didn’t like about the RSV1000 and the reason I didn’t buy one, was the seating position was a bit too extreme with quite a stretch to the bars with the long tank.
When I have millions and can afford to have few bikes in the garage though, the RSV1000 Nera will be one of them.
Bloody hell, just had a look at nicedays link, that Britton sounds cool!
Cheers everyone for the advice, I will let you know what I get as soon as I buy it.
Thanks
