I've always wanted an SXV450 or 550 and keep nearly buying one. I would use it as a bad weather bike and city commuter (instead of the current Hornet). The only things that worry me are reliability, build quality and parts service from Aprilia > I've had Aprilias before, although that was some time ago and they were 2 strokes. Can anyone convince me to either... Buy one or Forget the SXV and get a Japanese SM (eg, WR, CRF, etc) if I can find one that suits (I would want wheels, brakes and suspension already done) or Forget the SXV and get a KTM (been there before and know what to expect in terms of reliability, etc) or Forget SMs and get an MT09
My brother bought one of the first ones of these years ago and it looked lovely but rode shit. I went down the road on it and I don't know if it was just me not being used to that type of bike but the front end felt all over the place. The early ones had a lot of engine problems if I remember correctly. They really do look nice though.
One of my main worries is commuting a race engine, which probably tells me it's the wrong bike, but I just want one
Like my 450 Yam SM the SXV is king of the SM IMO, get one if you can BUT I'd not commute on it, not saying it won't but I'd be ready for the rebuilds, I have never owned one so don't take my word for it maybe if buying new stress that's what your going to do with it and see how prepared they are to stand by you and your SPANKING SXV550, I near got a van550 full spec some time back from ProTwins, they had to WSM spec bikes for 10k a pop, man o man how I did not sleep!
That's more like it they are back, classic man size MX for the strong, not the weak....lol Big meet a few weeks back, 500s the lot, awesome!
Sumat else I shoulda/wished I culda been able to keep, along with the DT175MX, 250/350LC, 350 YPVS and the 3 year old Split Mint RG500 Gamma my mate tried to sell me for £2650 when no fecker wanted them!
Yeah that's a few bad moves...haha, nice list of bikes! Take your self off for a slap, FYI two 0 mile RG's sold the other week for 55,000.00!!!
Wow is this an old thread but just looking cos I have found a SXV450 finally!! Been after a 550 for ages but 450 will do. Know all about problems with these bikes but wont be used much with impending Blade SP purchase. Have Dorsoduro currently so may swap.
There's some dollar!! I had some early aircooled RD's and X7's I wish I still had... Then moved on too the LC's and ended up with a NSR400! All my mates had RD500's and Gamas... I used to smoke them all ... Literally ... Boy those were the days! ...
I wouldn't run one as a commuter!!! Seriously the service intervals and terrible and expensive! .... But you would have the best time ever getting to and from work!!.... Grinning like a Cheshire Cat ...
Well just been to see the SXV450 in Bradford. Not for me, oil pool beneath it even in showroom. Fresh pool as well as they had obviously wiped it up before. I would be a fool to swap Dorso in for that.
i had a 550 , nice bike plenty of grunt (ok my maico 700 or my hm cr500 sm with 610 cc white bros kit are not that slow....) engine is pretty fragile also on new models (older version=catastrophic) Will not buy one , is good for a sunday quick spin around , that s all Took more times engine out of this bike than my 04 1k.... my 20 cents
I have an Enduro for Sunday mornings,,as I have just been out on it, I had to drop a cheque off somewhere and went to shop and got wifey a card and chocs,scratchcards ,lol, she loves the chance of being rich and leaving me. Salt all over the roads, nice to know I can just hose it off, Its a 350 Husky TE, cost me £750 , great fun on them knobblys on back roads,grit,mud
nice bike , bit shitty to start as kickstart is on left side and due 350/400 engine timing had few 510-610 back in the 90`
Correct,, it is also too big,too tall for me, good fun to have around but will look at getting one with electric start and not so extreme tyres on. But it does start easy with the kicker.
