A good review for the Aprilia SRV?

[MjW]

I don't know about the practicalities but I'd love to try one.

[Deeping]

My previous comment had a large dose of sarcasm

AFAIK the GP800 and SRV are pretty much the same machine under the different styling.

If you like the engine but not the ergnonomics then the mana/mana GT are worth looking at too as they share the same engine.

Was it you that was thinking of the ugly scoot, I'd recommend a test ride on that too if you can get one as it has tons of torque, good mpg and decent service intervals? And as others have said, it looks better in real life too.

In typical Italian style they fix the looks, but leave the utter impracticality of thing totally unmodified.

Here's what they should have done...
1: Shaved 25 kilos off the weight
2: Dumped the chain drive or at least fully-enclosed same
3: Given it a centre stand tat doesn't preclude the addition of panniers (see the c/s lever in piccies - if you mount panniers (and they don't offer any), you're buggered)
4: Changed the seat unit to provide at least 50 litres of underseat storage
5: Reduced the fuel consumption by 40%
6: Reduced the seat height by at least 2 inches
7: Provided adjustable ergonomics - handlebars, seat, screen
8: Added heated grips and seat as standard
9: Quadrupled the service intervals
10: Decided whether they want to make a scooter or a joke.

Of these the only decision they seem to have made appears to be #10...

What they have done is
1: Prettify the front end by stealing from the parts bin. Fucks up the aerodynamics at high speed (mpg drops from 50 to below 40 so it's got the drag co-efficient of a parachuted brick but hey, it looks luvverly...)
2: Added ABS and a rudimentary traction control system. A big thumbs up for that (but they have to add ABS for 2016 anyway thanks to Der Zafety Nazis)
3: Boosted the mid-range. Again, recognising that top end is irrelevant why make an 839cc scooter in the first place? The BeeEmms, Burgmans and Tmax's offer 90% of the performance with far better fuel consumption and user practicalities.

When the Piaggio Group already recognises the goal in 2012 is to change every single one of those things, as evidenced by the new 350 scooter motor, the best thing they could have done with the SRV is throw it in a skip and fahgettabahtid.

If they really wanted to make a showcase they should have avoided doing a half-arsed job and made something genuinely innovative that focusses on the performance potential - lower, lighter, faster, more frugal and a styling stunner, a breakthrough product not a breakfast work over.

Now don't hold back, just say what whats on your mind

[Terry1100]

I think Irrev's pretty much summed it up (apart from #4 - I've always accepted that the lack of underseat space is an inevitable result of it being taken up by the other half of the engine.

There is one other point (speaking from personal GP800 experience).

#11 Make it from higher quality materials and screw it together better so that it's value doesn't plummet like a bungee jumper on a frayed rope.

[MrGrumpy]

I think Irrev's pretty much summed it up (apart from #4 - I've always accepted that the lack of underseat space is an inevitable result of it being taken up by the other half of the engine.

There is one other point (speaking from personal GP800 experience).

is the engine that far back on a GP800/SRV??? I always naively assumed it'd be way up front with the vertical cylinder as far forward as possible behind the radiator, with the horizontal cylinder roughly where the Tmax/Burgman have their engines ie in the tunnel in front of the rider. Maybe my way would make it rather too long, but they'd be lots of room for luggage.....

[Terry1100]

is the engine that far back on a GP800/SRV???

Basically, the rear cylinder is positioned such that if it wasn't for head, you'd be bu*****ed by the piston

[SOLO]

I had a test ride of a Aprilia SRV in a biker meet car park ......... Urm.......... Couldn't get my leg over...then i found sat on the seat i couldn't touch the ground with even one foot, they was willing to let me spin it round the large car park and cheering me on but..... .....but my size for the first time has beat me, GOD these bikes must be aimed at people over 6ft