Aprilia SRV850

[Ferret]

Hi there

Great that you have done 30,000 miles and still love the machine .... such a difference from "Adventure" bikes riders that do 1500 miles per year, and I know a few of them !!!! The X-ADV is fantastic, I think of it a bit like a supermoto, amazing on the Jock B roads and pretty much uncatchable by anything, me and my chum both raced bikes and in addition he was Scottish touring car champion, we are very closely matched when I ride my 1200GS and he is on his 1200R, but I can run away from him on our local B roads, all down to the scoot. But as you say, 2 up and loaded the X-ADV does not have great passing power, hence getting the SRV.

It sounds like i will have no worries about racking up a few miles on the SRV over the next few years, but thanks again for the few maintenance tips.

Off to look at your photos now !

Cheers

Dougie

You need to periodically unplug the air box drain pipe as it does fill with gunk and water . It's clipped on the lower left panel (belly pan) as you sit on the bike . If you rag it a bit it will chuff a bit into the air box .Another quirky bit is that they tend to make a funny chuffing noise on the induction side ,normally on start up and turning off ,like a weird fart . This is more exaggerated if you run pod style filters . They will burn a bit of oil when ragged but that's the nature of the v twins .I have removed 20 kg In
weight from mine and it certainly has made a big improvement to the handling.The best way I have found foR overall improved ride is to use combined braking even on track days .


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[Tmaximus]

Thanks ... I will have a look at that, can you leave the drain plug out all the time ?, I leave the drain out on my KTM single as water does find its way in no matter how well fitted the lid is. 20kg is a heft chunk to loose, you have done well ! What tracks have you been on with it ? Cheers

[Ferret]

Thanks ... I will have a look at that, can you leave the drain plug out all the time ?, I leave the drain out on my KTM single as water does find its way in no matter how well fitted the lid is. 20kg is a heft chunk to loose, you have done well ! What tracks have you been on with it ? Cheers

I did snetterton ,Caldwell and brands ,mind I've done Caldwell on a Harley in the past to the disgust of on lookers lol . Round the 300 section at snetterton was hard work but great fun .If I was gonna chuck loads of cash at it I would get some carbon wheels and swing arm as that would easily loose 25-30kg more .Then add a turbo kit from gp1 .


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[Tmaximus]

Great that you have done all those tracks on the SRV, did you pass many bikes !? My chum raced in the Harley 1200 Sportster series about 6 or 7 years ago, those bikes went well, I used to track day a Buell .... a big surprise to many people. Its great being the fast underdog !!!!!

[Ferret]

Great that you have done all those tracks on the SRV, did you pass many bikes !? My chum raced in the Harley 1200 Sportster series about 6 or 7 years ago, those bikes went well, I used to track day a Buell .... a big surprise to many people. Its great being the fast underdog !!!!!

Yes I remember the Harley xr1200 series that used to race on BSB weekends along with the triumph triple challenge which we was involved in for a few years .Jesser McWilliams had his hand in on the xr1200 series if I remember correctly. The buell uylsees that I had was brilliant and never let me down and my wife still says it's the most comfy bike I've had .We had a buell lightning prior to The uylsees and even that was comfy for my wife even though it did not look it .Buells did eat a lot of tyres lol .On track with the srv yes you loose out 1/2 way up a long straight as the riders behind stir there gearbox but it's mid corner and exits your already at peak torque and out of the corner ,great fun .I used to ride with some of a constabulary and even they was really amazed at just how well the srv performed and that I was always in the mirrors .


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[Tmaximus]

I am friendly with Jeremy, he helps out with a young Spanish rider that I sponsor, from memory he won the XR1200 series, amazing rider. The Ulysses was a bit "left field" but a great bike by all accounts ... did it have a fold up pillion back rest ? My Buell went link stink, but ultimately blew up !! I might stray onto track with the SRV at some point, sounds like fun !

[Ferret]

I am friendly with Jeremy, he helps out with a young Spanish rider that I sponsor, from memory he won the XR1200 series, amazing rider. The Ulysses was a bit "left field" but a great bike by all accounts ... did it have a fold up pillion back rest ? My Buell went link stink, but ultimately blew up !! I might stray onto track with the SRV at some point, sounds like fun !

Yes he did and yes it had the fold down back rest come rack .Beauty in the eye of the beholder but by god it worked well at everything and more importantly it was great fun . If I found a good one I may be tempted again .The buell to me is a bit like my tdr 250 Yamaha being left field and underestimated.


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[Tmaximus]

.......... haha My TDR250 was my favourite bike of all time !!!! How strange !!!

[Ferret]

.......... haha My TDR250 was my favourite bike of all time !!!! How strange !!!

Mines in bits waiting for a rebuild that will get started once our move is completed


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[Tmaximus]

Top tip for your TDR, fill the 2 stroke tank using a gearbox oil bottle with the clear extended tube on the cap ... less mess !