New track/street bike:

speeder · speeder's Garage

2001 Aprilia RSV Factory w/ 7k miles. This was a pampered street bike that was recently converted to track weapon but has only a few track sessions on it. One weekend, rotated with other bikes, if not mistaken.

New Bridgestone street legal tires and FG (cheap) bodywork but looks good, IMO. I'm going to put lights back on it and register it, it will be a fun street bike that I can take to the track for DE and other track days.

I don't have pics yet w/ bodywork installed but I'm too excited to wait. Looks like this now:

scottmandue · 01-30-2016, 12:06 PM

Nice ride!
Nothing more sexy than an Italian motorpickle!

dlockhart · 01-30-2016, 01:53 PM

A very cool bike.
It feels like a big girl, one expects it to be a point and shoot liter bike. It will wheelie and slide doing that which is fun but properly set up it is a corner speed ballerina. Lean it on its ear and let it rail.

They do have a lot of engine braking and in the pre ride by wire world the easy fix was to crank the idle up to just below the slowest corner speed/ rpm for that track. The remote adjuster made this easy to do on hot pit

I had a lot of fun with mine until it went up in flames after a highside at motor sports park hastings.

Bill Douglas · 01-30-2016, 02:08 PM

Looks like fun.

But be careful out there.

dlockhart · 01-30-2016, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peteremsley

Nice bike! That should be fun on the track.

Turn 4, by chance?

I had to look at the track map to figure out where it was and T11 was the winner.

dlockhart · 01-30-2016, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peteremsley

Ugh. That's not a slow corner. Thoroughly enjoyed that track a few years ago but it had got really bumpy last time I rode there.

Sorry for jacking with your thread, speeder. Lets see some pics with the body on...

It has been several years since I was last there. If the 2016 season goes as planned we may head out there for a trackaddix day in September to visit George and other old friends.

I had a Ti Akrapovič system on mine and it sounded wonderful.

speeder should post up a vid of it running.

Jeff Higgins · 01-30-2016, 04:51 PM

Awesome find Denis, congratulations! Yer gonna have a lotta fun with that one...

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Very sweet, always thought one of those Italian bikes would be a sweet dance partner

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by peteremsley

Ugh. That's not a slow corner. Thoroughly enjoyed that track a few years ago but it had got really bumpy last time I rode there.

Sorry for jacking with your thread, speeder. Lets see some pics with the body on...

No worries, all bike talk is welcome here!

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlockhart

It has been several years since I was last there. If the 2016 season goes as planned we may head out there for a trackaddix day in September to visit George and other old friends.

I had a Ti Akrapovič system on mine and it sounded wonderful.

speeder should post up a vid of it running.

I was hoping you'd chime in, that is cool that you had this bike. I've never ridden it, even though it has been owned by one of my closest friends and used to be his street bike. I've always wanted a Ducati, it will be interesting to see how this V-twin compares.

As you know, it has a Rotax motor that should be pretty bulletproof. I'm excited. Was out visiting one of our other resident track junkies today, MMarsh, planning out my MC track education.

I'll definitely post a video of it running, need to just get some fresh gas in it. It's been sitting for a loooong while. It has Aprapovic headers but some other cans, can't remember brand. I'd like to also take this opportunity to thank Wayne, or whomever is responsible for changing the photo software so that I can finally post pics from my mobile device.

jhynesrockmtn · 01-31-2016, 07:39 AM

Have fun! I got real close to going down the track bike black hole several years ago after a school at Pacific Raceways in Kent on my VFR. It was a ton of fun and I learned a lot. Would like to do that again on the Ducati!

motion · 01-31-2016, 02:48 PM

Nice score, Denis! Those things are sweet! They share a lot of DNA with my RS250 two strokes. Have you been on a track before on a bike? I'm sure MM will take good care of you. I would recommend AutoClub Speedway or Buttonwillow for your first track day. Willow Springs can be a bit intimidating on a fast bike.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by motion

Nice score, Denis! Those things are sweet! They share a lot of DNA with my RS250 two strokes. Have you been on a track before on a bike? I'm sure MM will take good care of you. I would recommend AutoClub Speedway or Buttonwillow for your first track day. Willow Springs can be a bit intimidating on a fast bike.

I've never been on a track with a bike so it's a little intimidating. I'm going to look into one of the good schools, maybe Keith Code or similar. I'd actually rather start out on a little bike but this thing presented itself and it's too good of a deal and bike to pass up. I've ridden on the street for 40 years and have no fear of riding it on the street, I've ridden plenty of fast bikes.

I'm going to install lights back on it and plate it. It comes from my buddy who has an RS250 two stroke, as well as a few other bikes. It used to be his street bike years ago but he's into the lightweight stuff now.

speeder · speeder's Garage

I'm very open to opinions on various superbike schools.

dlockhart · 01-31-2016, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

I'm very open to opinions on various superbike schools.

YCRS is the gold standard. https://ridelikeachampion.com/

Elite Coaching for street, track and race*|*RickDiculous Racing
Which is a off-shoot of YCRS might work for you since they are biased towards west coast tracks. I might give them a go to work with Ken Hill at Miller in Utah again.
Scott Russell is also with Ricks now. The two up ride was almost worth the price for the whole darn YCRS school.

Another option in your neck-of-the-woods is
1-on-1 Training | Racers Edge Performance

Dale was a Spencers and YCRS instructor prior to them moving their operation east to NJMP

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlockhart

YCRS is the gold standard. https://ridelikeachampion.com/

Elite Coaching for street, track and race*|*RickDiculous Racing
Which is a off-shoot of YCRS might work for you since they are biased towards west coast tracks. I might give them a go to work with Ken Hill at Miller in Utah again.
Scott Russell is also with Ricks now. The two up ride was almost worth the price for the whole darn YCRS school.

Another option in your neck-of-the-woods is
1-on-1 Training | Racers Edge Performance

Dale was a Spencers and YCRS instructor prior to them moving their operation east to NJMP

Thanks! I was looking at videos for YCRS today, they seem really great. Wish they taught in CA., they do have some sessions in AZ. in the winter. I'll check those other guys.

Bowling · 01-31-2016, 07:04 PM

Another vote for YCRS. Have not personally attended Code's but 2 friends in LA area have several years ago and found it very beneficial. Have fun.

Rot 911 · 02-01-2016, 05:41 AM

That is a great bike! Have you considered just leaving it a track bike? I finally bought a dedicated track bike last year and it sure is nice not having to keep converting it back and forth.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Several years back I made the same decision for a track/street bike and picked up this '01

A series of events put the track bike plans on hold and I used the bike as a commuter and weekend fun bike. As already mentioned it has lots of engine braking and would benefit from a slipper clutch. Mine did not have one and I never got comfortable in the tighter East county roads in San Diego. Motor has good power that is very easy to use - no surprises. My biggest complaint, and the primary reason I sold it, was that as a DD the vibration through the bars and pegs would put my limbs to sleep within an hour. I tried various bar and glove combinations but never got that sorted sufficiently. I was happy to sell it - the market is very soft for Aprilia.

motion · 02-01-2016, 08:03 AM

Denis, if you aren't planning on racing or monitoring your lap times, I wouldn't waste the $600-$1,000 on a school. That's just my opinion. Track days are all about fun, and you really shouldn't be worrying about squeezing out another second or two from your lap times. I find the best tool is a Gopro mounted on a bike following you. That way, you can study your lines and body position.

I did spend a few sessions with Dale Kieffer, as David suggested above, and he helped me with a few things at AutoClub Speedway. Great guy to work with.