It's been been a long time in coming, way back in 2016 being the last time I indulged myself in a new sportbike; but I will be taking possession of a new sportbike on Friday. My beloved 2012 Honda CBR1000RR is being sold off to make room in the garage for a hot Italian stallion, the 2021 RSV4 in Losail Silver. These are supposed to be at the very top of the Superbike food chain but will it be enough to knock my trusty 2016 ZX-10R out of the top spot? Scheduled to pick up the new bike on Friday morning. My neighbor is taking the old CBR off my hands tomorrow, I think he's more excited than I am....

The 2012 CBR1000RR was always a bit redundant as I had the 2015 Repsol version that performed almost exactly the same despite it's upscale componentry. This made the '12 the obvious choice when it came time to cull the herd but I have to say the old CBR is more attractive than the new Aprilia which is a bit understated in it's flat metallic silver and black livery. She's no real looker but I'm guessing dynamically, this will take things to a whole new level. The Honda pumps out a measly 150 BHP at the rear wheel stock, the RSV4s turn the dyno drum to the tune of 190+ rear wheel HP in stock configuration and are reputed to be the best handlers in the modern superbike arena, time will tell and I plan to tell all. On a shorter track, I think the CBR would give the Aprilia a real run for it's money but given the chance to stretch it's legs, the Ape should run off and hide.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/9/2022 @ 8:43 PM *

My son really wants a RSV4 and I've always kind of told him " too expensive and too complicated " etc.....then I rode one. OMG! What a beast. Size of a 600 with 200 hp. Very smooth motor. I was giggling like a lunatic. Needless to say, I'm not trying to talk him out of one anymore. I'm jelly...

Mad

Thanks for that input Maddevill, same thing everyone says, most folks absolutely love 'em. My only concern is reliability, warranty and parts availability. I had similar concerns with my 959 Ducati back in 2016 but it has actually been one of my most reliable bikes.

I think you'll enjoy the RSV4 in a whole new way, Kruz.

Yeah, the two things I've heard bad about the RSV4 were valve adjustments, ( apparently its a bitch to do) and parts availability. Sometimes takes months to get parts.

Mad

...another $7000 and it's not such a plain Jane.

There's carbon fiber vinyl that looks real good and a paint job would cost under a thousand although that would add couple pounds. That OEM paint looks low gloss, I'd just vinyl the whole thing for a couple hundred and it would add only a few ounces. You could get the seat reupholstered for a hundred bucks. Spend $4000 on a set of BST rims. You could dress the plain Jane up to look just like the RSV4 Factory and you'd have better wheels.

Realistically, if the appearance of the silver model is the only thing that turns you off, you could have a good vinyl shop dress the bike up for about $500. I'd look real hard into those alloy wheels and electronic suspension before I shelled out $7000 to throw in the fancy paint job.

Yeah, I don't think anyone could deny, the factory model looks amazing and the normal RSV4 looks very normal at best. Riding a sleeper has advantages though.

Update, my 2012 Honda CBR1000RR sold on Thursday and I already regret selling it but I have not as yet, picked up the new 2021 Aprilia RSV4. I spoke with the Aprilia salesperson yesterday and told him I needed more time to make the decision.
They had my new RSV4 serviced and tagged and ready to go but I was a no show yesterday, sadly after being up all night fretting over this purchase. Here's the deal as Rook has alluded to, the base RSV4 is clearly the one you want at $7000 less than the factory version. What do you get for your $7000 with the Factory edition? Lighter forged alloy wheels, Ohlins EC 2.0 semi-active suspension and the fancy Factory paint scheme. Everyone seems to agree the non-factory is a steal. I had to fight with the dealer tooth and nail and was only able to get them to come off the drive out price by a measly $500. Maybe the market has changed in the Corvid Pandemic era but I'm used to getting thousands off in the past after negotiating the deal. So bottom line I will be paying just short of $21,000 out the door pricing for the base 2021 RSV4 in model year 2022 and the worst part is it's no looker in the silver/black base paint, just not a head turner like the factory versions. I'm trying to convince myself that what I am getting is arguably the finest liter class sportbike ever produced. The V-4 engine sound and power delivery is legendary and the handling brings out superlatives in almost every test rider that swings a leg over it. I'm used to buying sportbikes and brother I've bought a lot over the years, on looks as well as performance. The bike must have both to be a keeper in my opinion.

Dang Rook, did you have to rub it in, you know the Blue/Lava Red Factory is the one I really want. She's stunning!

Ho hum...yawn....

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/12/2022 @ 12:54 PM *

just tellin it like it is, Kruz. What matters most is how good you think it looks and if you're not wild about it, there's no sense in encouraging you to buy it. The silver one would be your least eye appealing bike by a long stretch. It's not horrible, just not very fetching. But if the base model is a better bke, I'd get that one and dress it up. High gloss vinyl looks like vinyl but that matte finish, I don't think anyone would know the difference. Vinyl would probably last ten years. It would also keep the factory paint absolutely flawless until you were ready to take the vinyl off. It's up to you though. The RSV4 will be there for years to come or there will be something even better.

" I'm trying to convince myself that what I am getting is arguably the finest liter class sportbike ever produced."...not even.IMO...you don't want this bike.Iffn ya did,you'd be all oorah over it.You're not.Get something else.Something you can salivate over again and again.My .02c.

[i]" I'm trying to convince myself that what I am getting is arguably the finest liter class sportbike ever produced."...not even.IMO...you don't want this bike.Iffn ya did,you'd be all oorah over it.You're not.Get something else.Something you can salivate over again and again.My .02c.[/i]

Couldn't agree more...

After it is home, if you do not look back when walking away or touch it when walking past then yeah same thing ..:)

* Last updated by: chrly on 2/13/2022 @ 8:31 AM *

A custom paint job would cost a lot less than $7000. Just saying

Mad

Aprilias were pretty much drool worthy machines up until 2021. They have been at the pinnacle of sport bike track performance ever since they went to the 1100 cc motor and they stroked it again for 2021 for additional midrange torque and they are dynoing stock from 190 HP to over 200 HP at the rear tire, they are beasts! You cannot find a bad review on these bikes, they are in first or in second place in just about every sportbike shootout in the past few years....but...and this is a big but, they seem to have cheapened the paint, plastics and detail work for 2021 to hold the price down and pay for the new MotoGp inspired electronics suite, swingarm and stroker motor. The 2020 is gorgeous, dripping with carbon fiber detailing everywhere you look. Arguably the 2021 is a better bike but it looks bargain basement cheap with all of the carbon fiber parts replaced by cheap looking plastics and the matte paint looks rattle can. I'm trying to find a left over new 2020 near by but so far no luck. Did find one in Georgia on Cycle trader but its 1000 miles away...

So you have to go for a one way plane to Georgia and 1000 mile bike ride adventure over a few days to get what you want?

This thread is close to a couple of 12 yr old girls arguing over which cell phone to get on line cause they are to spoiled to go out in public to get the real deal.

Im thinking you already answered the question and are on your way to get what you really want

Arguably the 2021 is a better bike but it looks bargain basement cheap with all of the carbon fiber parts replaced by cheap looking plastics and the matte paint looks rattle can. I'm trying to find a left over new 2020 near by but so far no luck. Did find one in Georgia on Cycle trader but its 1000 miles away...

I'd get the one that was fastest no matter how ugly it was or I wouldn't get it. I don't want the slower bike.

How much would a set of factory fairings, seat and gas tank cost?

Or just wait. One thing's for sure, there will always be a better bike. Wait and you can get that instead. If someone were dangling a great deal in front of you, I could see jumping at it.

To tell you the truth, I'd live a simple retired life and think about buying only the things I need to stay independent and do that as long as possible. ...unless I could find a bike funding job. I don't have a fancy retirement from the looks of it but one thing's for sure, it's full of free time which I've always valued a great deal. Then again, I can fill my hours with things that don't cost very much money. I've been an ideal candidate for retirement my whole life and I never even knew it.

* Last updated by: Rook on 2/13/2022 @ 6:22 PM *

"I'd get the one that was fastest no matter how ugly it was or I wouldn't get it."..well Kruz..there ya go.What you REALLY want is that Carbon H2.I knew it all along
IMO they're gorgeous.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 2/13/2022 @ 6:44 PM *

To tell you the truth, I'd live a simple retired life and think about buying only the things I need to stay independent and do that as long as possible. ...unless I could find a bike funding job. I don't have a fancy retirement from the looks of it but one thing's for sure, it's full of free time which I've always valued a great deal. Then again, I can fill my hours with things that don't cost very much money. I've been an ideal candidate for retirement my whole life and I never even knew it. 

OK, I widened my search parameters to include the 2020 Factory version below which is visually stunning. The '20 Factory comes standard dripping with carbon fiber goodies and comes with a factory Akrapovic exhaust as standard. The unit I located is about an hour away, has 220 miles on the odometer and I placed a bid on it for $22,000 which I think it is well worth. This one I can get excited over even though it has the older 1077 cc motor, Euro 4 compliant, original style swingarm and slower ECU processing speed. The 2021 is Euro 5 compliant, has the stroked 1192 cc motor, inverted MotoGP style swingarm and 4X ECU processing speed. On the flip side, the '21s have zero carbon fiber and cheap looking paint and plastics. Everything else is the same, so it's a bit of a trade-off.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/14/2022 @ 10:18 AM *

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/16/2022 @ 7:06 PM *

Much better.Those wheels look REALLY light.I think you'll like this one much more

Yessir thanks Greenie, forged Marchesini alloy wheels as standard. I love the look of this bike, not sure why they cheapened the '21s so much, probably to maintain a price point.

Where is Hub, I figured he'd be all over this thread, is he OK?

Well, back to Plan A, going in tomorrow to buy the 2021 RSV4 in silver/black, can't seem to find a left over '20 RSV4 Factory in the black and tri-colore paint job I wanted. My rationalizing is this, no, it's not the colors that I wanted; butt the '21 is improved in several key areas over the '20. I can always add carbon bling to the '21, hell I can repaint it if I choose; but I can't upgrade the '20 to the new '21 MotoGp swingarm, faster IMU processor and stroked motor without spending a small fortune. Hub would approve if he were hear, I'm sure of it.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/16/2022 @ 7:07 PM *

Here's my take... Gray is my choice. I think throttle blip on the shift has both up and down as standard? I would assume the two bikes handle the same you close your eyes, meaning, I test rode the bmw inline that had the same feel as the opposed twin chassis. I'll take a guess and say the ape probably would feel the same between the tuono twin and the v4.

I hooked up with a tuono group for one ride, where this one guy was a trackday rider, kind of 'toned' for speed, and I was new to the road, and pushing it to keep up. Rode up to a duc dealer, eyeing a monster. Sales guy comes out and points out there was no chicken line on the rear tire. I never noticed till he told me. Had to have been that ride.

You only live once, Kruz, so if you can deal with some cheap ass connectors for that kind of price, an air box I had to close down being warped, if you can get over those little nagging vs how much you shell out for a little company's product, you have to experience just the handling of it.

I know the tuono said Rotax on the engine, so that is more an aircraft engine design outfit, commissioned to build the engines. Don't know if this is an in-house engine from the ground up, but I wouldn't hesitate if it still is a Rotax engine.