Ducati Monster Forum

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/11/aprilia-rsv525-prototype-confi.html (http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/11/aprilia-rsv525-prototype-confi.html)

;D

Someone already built it (out of an sxv 550):

(http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/attachment.php?s=ece1f95d59c06ada1e87314eaf43b8e6&attachmentid=88020&stc=1&d=1216250351)

http://www.motorradonline.de/de/motorraeder/tests/einzeltests/fahrbericht-aprilia-rsx-550/102093 (http://www.motorradonline.de/de/motorraeder/tests/einzeltests/fahrbericht-aprilia-rsx-550/102093)
http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156143 (http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156143)

I want.   [thumbsup]

I wonder if it will be expensive like the streetable RS250...  i wanted one, but they sell for more $$ than a similarly used full liter aprilia and that's just hard to justify...

They got the prototype idea because several people have already done it. I know of at least 3 in the 250 chassis, and 1 in the 125 chassis.
The photo of the sxv conversion has been done a few times too. You can actually buy that one from Roland Sands. He's producing them now.

http://aprilianews.blogspot.com/2007/03/interview-with-creator-of-rsvr.html (http://aprilianews.blogspot.com/2007/03/interview-with-creator-of-rsvr.html)

Here is an interview with the first guy that did it. There have been several since.

Minor distinction here, we're talking an actual bike from Aprilia, not a mashup from random person #5. I thought that warranted extra interest, apparently not?

Looks great. I like the idea of an actual production version.

Not sure where you get that idea. I'm definitely interested in a production version. I'm showing where Aprilia got the idea. The ones that I've seen have been great as race bikes so I think the concept is solid. I know of one that was for sale recently...very tempting.
Only downside is that Aprilia will charge a ton of $ to buy one, like the guy building the clone version of the Ducati Supermono...incredible but way too much $.

I had to search for my bookmark but I just found it...this is by far the best example yet. I really can't imagine anyone doing a better version than this guy did. Check it out.
http://rs-xv550.blogspot.com/ (http://rs-xv550.blogspot.com/)

 [beer]

I was talking with an Aprilia guy at the Laguna GP back in 2005 about putting that motor in the RS chassis.  He said quite a few people had mentioned the same thing.  So they've been aware of that marriage since the 550 engine came out.

My only question is if they've addressed any of the issues the early engines had.  Primarily an issue with leaking coolant into the engine.  We've had a few 550 owners down here and every single one of them said it was a nightmare to keep running.

Didn't mean to downplay the OP. I was actually reading the article about the rsx minutes before your post, wondering if something like that would be a good track bike for me. Then I read it "only" had 71 bhp; same as my bike. If the price of the bike would be 'low', then I guess it would be great track bike, but as others have indicated it would probably be a 'premium' bike.

71 hp in a gp chassis that weighs over 100lbs. less than your monster with 71 hp is a no brainer. It would destroy your bike on the track.  [thumbsup]

Exactly. 

Horsepower isn't everything.....

Love the idea, but would this be the same engine that requires a rebuild every 70 hours or so?

The article was saying that they'd make the engine more reliable which would be nice.

I saw one of the rs-xv projects a while ago too. I would be surprised if Aprilia wasn't considering a sport bike based on the 450/550 motor from the outset.

No they don't. There are several guys racing these in tard form against SV650s and absolutely dominating. You are thinking of singles.

wait wait.... he REMOVED the RS250 2 stroke to add a SXV550 motor?  

Mother of god....  WHY?!?!?!  :'( :'(

So he can rebuild the motor and replace expensive parts???   2 strokes are SIMPLE, and work.  Why in the hell would someone want to make a bike more complicated and more maintenance intensive with less power??  I know, lets go get a bimota Vdue, and put a honda WR426 motor in it....cause it would be cool ?!?!?

[whispering voice]   pssst....Taft.....hey man, 2 smokes are going away....gotta save mother earth or something like that  [whispering voice over]


I'm pretty sure that both Honda and Yamaha are not "officially" making any more TZ or RS GP bikes. It was either this year or next. That's why the Moriwaki 250 is out there. I'm with you...I'm sad for the death of the 2 strokes too. Someone's got to come up with a replacement and the best two ideas so far are this Priller, and the Moriwaki 250.

Don't get it, never will.

The hippe-tree hugger argument doesn't work.  I betya that one 18 wheels transport cab pulling into and out of a parking lot puts out more toxic crap than the entire 125 and 250 moto GP fields COMBINED for an entire race!

Hmmm lets see.....  I know, we'll make them run 4 strokes, which need ultra exotic materials for the valve train to live at sustained high RPM's, instead of a 2 smoker that will rev to the moon and back as long as the crank's been setup right and there is oil in the gas.  [bang] [bang] [bang]  That'll make it "Cheaper" for the average joe to get into racing, and upkeep for the season.

RPM means different things to different people.  For 4 strokes in racing, it should stand for "Ruins people's motors"

Weight & power?  Is it 71hp and around 300 (in street trim)?  I would have dirty, sweet sexing with a bike with those specs.  <insert humping emoticon>

It's a track-only chassis/bike, unless it is a converted cup aprilia (garbage and big money).  A real 250 bike doesn't have a VIN, comes in a crate from the rising sun (or Austria).

If you can register a RS250 chassis (the real deal, not the cup bike garbage), you ought to leave the 70hp 2 smoker in it and ride it that way.  If you don't want to, please let me know how to register one, I'll go find a TZ250 and start riding it on the street  [thumbsup]

Box-stock RS250's were 70bhp and 135kg (297lbs).  STOCK :)

Great fab work, bike looks sick....and I bet it rips.  But keep the smokers smoking :)

The service intervals may not be the same as an MX single but how are their engines doing otherwise.

The 3 locals who have shown up at local trackdays with SXV's have all said they are a nightmare to keep running.  One has changed hands 3 times.  Each owner selling it within a month of getting it.  Up for sale again with oil/coolant leaking issues.

I talked recently with one of the guys running one and asked him about it because there are tons of street owners having those issues. He told me that if you just tear it down in the beginning and fix the issues, after that they are fine. So I'm guessing that all of the people racing them are doing this. Aprilia supposedly fixed the issues after the '08 models.

That's what they need to remedy because the motor's reputation is somewhat tarnished due to the early model year issues. 

The owner's I've talked to all say the motor is amazing though.  I hear the SXV is a blast to ride.  Have to imagine in an RS chassis it'd be killer.