Thanks Ratty,indeed I’m loathed to sell this bike for the reasons that, amongst others, as you say it is a pretty rare, fairly well kept secret of a very well built superbike which is already reaching cult following in various forums in the UK and US - especially for the (at present) relative low prices it seems to command.
It has in the last couple of years featured in BIKE magazine’s “bikes of the new millennium to get hold of” (for future high values as classics).
It seems that the reasons for the above was due to Aprilia’s ill-fated decision to launch it at the same time as the ‘all-out superbike’ but more ubiquitous RSV and the naked ‘streetfigher’ version Tuono, as a ‘in between’ SL (Superlight) R version of the two (I guess a bit like having a GSXR750 instead of the 600 over the Thou - although all three Aprilias did share the same engine).
Although it did receive pretty good reviews at the launch, it remained overshadowed by the other two - plus the over £8K launch price didn’t help either.
So Aprilia for a marketing point of view decided to reduce the price which went as down as £6350 new! That consequently drove down second-hand prices dramatically for such a good-spec bike (unique aluminium light frame, Rotax counter-balanced RSV V60 with higher torque, Brembos, Showas, Marzocchis, in board lap-timer, etc…). Then Before they would start to reap the fruits they decided to stop production altogether in 2005.
Really I’m not trying to bo**ock you guys over my sale, if I didn’t have the need to raise some funds (yup, recession et al…) I don’t think I’d dream of selling this bike, especially such a late model (SL Mille 05R) with low miles.
In view of that I understand that £3500 might seem a bit high on Parkers’ prices, hence I am considering offers in between that and 3k.
Cheers and happy rides.
Ps: The BCR ride just seems to be made for this bike, in town it just does not work as well - I know that does not help the sale but that’s a Fact!
